In a telephone conversation with President of the European Council Charles Michel, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the EU to influence the Kiev authorities and force them to respect humanitarian law. The Kremlin Press Service reported.

“It was mentioned that the Russian armed forces have already declared a ceasefire several times to evacuate the population through humanitarian corridors. At the same time, the Ukrainian national battalions are preventing this by resorting to various forms of violence against the civilian population,” the statement said.

According to the Kremlin, the Russian President “called on the European Union to make a real contribution to saving lives, to put pressure on the Kiev authorities, to force them to respect humanitarian law.”

Putin stressed that the Russian military is doing everything possible to save the lives of civilians in Ukraine.

“Vladimir Putin outlined Russia’s position on a special military operation to protect the Donbas republics. The humanitarian aspects of the current situation were discussed in detail.

In particular, Vladimir Putin stressed that the Russian military is taking all possible measures to save the lives of civilians. The main threat comes from nationalist groups, which mainly use terrorist tactics, hiding behind the civilian population,” the Kremlin continued.

Putin assessed the process of negotiations between Moscow and Kiev and confirmed the demands of the Russian side: “Vladimir Putin assessed the process of negotiations with the representatives of Kiev, confirming the well-known Russian demands.”

On 24 February, the Russian President announced a special military operation in Ukraine in response to a request for help from the leaders of the Donbas republics. Among the demands of the Russian side are the demilitarization and denationalization of Ukraine, the neutral-non-nuclear status of that country, the recognition of the Russian property of Crimea, and of the sovereignty of Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.