Vladimir Putin warmly congratulated Mr Hollande on his 60th birthday.
The two leaders continued their exchange of views on the crisis in Ukraine, expressing serious concern over the continued exacerbation of the overall situation accompanied by a deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the southeast of the country. Both sides stressed the need for efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilian population. Vladimir Putin spoke of the specific measures in this area taken by Russia in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Both leaders stressed the paramount importance of a ceasefire and a political settlement of Ukraine’s internal issues.
The two presidents discussed certain pressing issues of Russian-French relations as well.
The conversation also touched upon the situation in Iraq and around the Gaza Strip. Both leaders spoke for building up international efforts to help resolve these burning issues.