Michel urges Putin by phone on Easter ceasefire
Charles Michel, the chairman of the council of EU heads of government, has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation for a “humanitarian” ceasefire during Orthodox Easter, a senior EU official in Brussels said. Michel argued for humanitarian access to the city of Mariupol and the evacuation of civilians from besieged cities such as the Ukrainian port.
Michel has also urged Putin to contact Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky directly, insiders said. The phone call followed Michel’s visit to Kiev earlier this week where he spoke with Zelensky.
During his meeting with Putin, according to EU sources, Michel underlined the “unacceptability” of the Russian attack and pointed to Putin’s miscalculations and losses, which Putin may not reach because information about the state of affairs in Ukraine is being kept away from him.
According to Zelensky, Russia has rejected a proposal for a ceasefire during the Orthodox Easter this weekend.