Meeting of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in Kyiv. File photoBERLIN, May 17.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed the humanitarian and military situation in Ukraine with Volodymyr Zelensky, the press service of the German government said following a telephone conversation. and the President of Ukraine exchanged views on the current military-humanitarian situation in Ukraine and agreed that a diplomatic solution reached through negotiations between Ukraine and Russia would require an immediate cessation of hostilities by Russia and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Scholz and Zelensky agreed to stay in touch, «continue to exchange views on the possibilities of further support for Ukraine,» the department said.Candidate for candidates: why the European Union disowns UkraineRussia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass. Russian-Ukrainian consultations began in late February: the delegations held two face-to-face meetings in Belarus, after which it was decided to continue them on a daily basis via videoconferencing. At the end of March, the delegations held another round of talks in Istanbul. As a result, the head of the Russian delegation at the talks, aide to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky, said that Ukraine had submitted its written proposals for a future treaty, which Moscow considers a step forward, and in general, Kyiv for the first time in many years showed a desire to negotiate. 
Scholz called on Putin for an early ceasefire in Ukraine, in response, the Russian side took two steps towards Ukraine. First, it was decided to significantly reduce hostilities in the Kiev and Chernigov directions. Secondly, Moscow suggested that the meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky should take place simultaneously with the initialing of the treaty by the foreign ministers. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later said that Ukraine was refusing its own proposals and creating numerous provocations in order to slow down the negotiation process. In particular, according to the minister, Ukraine presented its draft agreement with Russia, which is a departure from the provisions fixed at the meeting in Istanbul regarding Crimea, and also changed the provision on military exercises without mentioning the need to obtain Russia's consent.
Scholz urged to make the talks between Russia and Ukraine «more specific»
