Macron calls on Putin to release captured Ukrainian sailors and vessels

RFI reported this with reference to the press service of the Elysée Palace.

"Emmanuel Macron urged Vladimir Putin to release the arrested Ukrainian sailors as soon as possible," the report reads.

The Elysée Palace also noted that during the conversation held on January 2, the parties discussed the settlement of the ongoing conflict in Syria. In particular, Macron confirmed that the international coalition would continue the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria, and drew attention to the need to protect the Syrian Kurds.

The previous talk between Putin and Macron took place in Istanbul on October 27, 2018 at a summit dedicated to the political settlement in Syria. The summit was also attended by leaders of Turkey and Germany.

As reported, on November 25, Russian border ships committed aggressive actions against Ukrainian vessels that were en route from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol. They fired on and seized three Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait and captured 24 Ukrainian sailors.

France, along with other European countries, condemned Russia's actions in the Kerch Strait.