Mr. Putin said Russia did not attack nuclear power plants as reported by the West.

According to a statement from the French Presidential Office, during the phone call, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed that the Russian military did not target civilians and that this responsibility belonged to Ukraine. Mr. Putin also said that Russia did not attack nuclear power plants as reported by the Western press and had complied with the safety regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The head of Russia continued to emphasize that the goals of the special military operation in Ukraine would be achieved through dialogue or conflict.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia's demands on Ukraine were unacceptable, reaffirming his determination to achieve a ceasefire and establish humanitarian corridors. Mr. Macron warned that new sanctions against Russia were also being considered.

French President talks with Russian President. Source: Liberation

This is the seventh phone call between the two leaders of Russia and France since the French leader's visit to Russia nearly a month ago. A day earlier, the French Foreign Ministry continued to issue a notice asking its citizens to urgently leave Russia due to increasingly tense relations between Russia and the West.

France has recently sent more than 500 troops to Romania to join NATO allies in protecting the eastern flank of Europe. Minister of the Army Florence Parly and Chief of Staff of the French Army, General Thierry Burkhard, also arrived in Romania yesterday (March 6), visiting French troops stationed at a base in the city of Constanta on the Black Sea coast, 200km from the Ukrainian border.

European Council President Charles Michel said yesterday that the European Union (EU) will use all measures to avoid war with Russia. The EU's strategy is to gradually increase unprecedented and severe sanctions to weaken Russia, while maintaining a dialogue channel, although in the short term it is difficult to bring results./.