Russia (bbabo.net) - The Presidents of Russia and France held a telephone conversation. They talked about security guarantees, the internal Ukrainian crisis and Kiev's unwillingness to fulfill the Minsk agreements, the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, the situation in Mali, as well as restrictions on the work of Russia Today in France.

Vladimir Putin congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his birthday, the leaders exchanged good wishes ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Kremlin press service said.

Putin and Macron continued to discuss issues of strengthening stability and security in Europe with an emphasis on the draft treaty between Russia and the United States on security guarantees and an agreement on security measures for Russia and the NATO countries. Putin spoke about the work carried out by Russian diplomacy on this topic.

The presidents discussed the problems in the settlement of the internal Ukrainian conflict caused by Kiev's unwillingness to fulfill the Minsk agreements. Putin stressed that the possibility of a summit in the "Normandy format" depends on the concrete steps taken by the Kiev authorities to implement this set of measures. Macron also touched upon the situation in Mali.

The leaders exchanged views on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, expressing satisfaction with the stabilization of the situation and efforts to establish a peaceful life, restore economic and transport links in the region. On these issues, Russia and France will continue to act synchronously.

In addition, Putin drew attention to the restrictions that the Russia Today news channel continues to be suspended in France, and expressed the hope that the same opportunities for work without discrimination that are provided to the French media in Russia.

bbabo.Net