Russian president, EU chairman discuss situation in Ukraine via telephone

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kyiv is not serious about peace talks with Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin told EU Chairman Charles Michel in a telephone discussion Tuesday.

"Kyiv does not demonstrate a serious attitude to the search for mutually acceptable solutions," Putin said in his assessment about peace talks that started last week.

He pointed out the EU's one-sided position regarding the situation in Ukraine, noting that EU leadership ignored Monday’s "criminal and inhumane action of the Ukrainian military" -- a missile strike with cluster munition on a residential quarter in the center of Donetsk, which led to civilian casualties.

They also discussed humanitarian aspects, including measures to evacuate civilians.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which started on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 596 civilians have been killed and 1,067 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to the UN, which noted that conditions on the ground make it difficult to verify the true number.

Nearly 3 million people have fled to neighboring countries, said the UN refugee agency.