French president Emmanuel Macron called on Russian president Vladimir Putin on Monday to spare civilians in Ukraine, the French leader's office said in a statement, reports Yahoo! News.
Macron's office said in a statement that in a 90-minute phone call he had asked the Russian leader to stop attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, and secure major roadways, in particular the road from the south of Kyiv.
"President Putin confirmed his willingness to make commitments on these three points," the statement said.
Macron also called on Putin to respect international humanitarian law, and allow aid shipments to reach the population, the statement said.
For his part, Putin stressed that the demilitarisation of Ukraine and Western recognition of Russian sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula were prerequisites to ending fighting in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.