Ukraine is delaying peace negotiations with Russia by making unrealistic proposals, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

 

According to the Kremlin, Ukraine is not as willing as Russia to accelerate the negotiations.

Scholz called for a ceasefire and improvement of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine as soon as possible in the nearly hour-long phone call. But, according to the German leader, the ultimate goal should be to reach a diplomatic agreement on the conflict.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that he has not yet seen any “meaningful contribution” from Russia to ending the war. According to him, Moscow is not making any serious efforts to accelerate the negotiations.