France is planning a humanitarian operation with Turkey and Greece to evacuate people from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, according to DPA.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the plan last night after the summit in Brussels.
There are already concrete talks with the mayor of Mariupol and coordination with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron said. Consultations are also needed with Russia, whose troops have been besieging the city for weeks.
According to the Elysee Palace, France is in contact with the Ukrainian authorities, Greeks and Turks and relevant international organizations to clarify the details. According to Paris, the action should begin in the coming days.
Macron told reporters in Brussels that he intends to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days on the situation with Ukraine and initiatives to help residents of Mariupol leave the city, according to Reuters.
“I will talk to Putin for the next 48-72 hours to clarify the details. The issue is urgent,” said the French president.