Prisoner

Putin says he is ready to deliver gas, discuss prisoner swap – Austria

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a assembly of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council by way of a video clip hyperlink in Moscow, Russia May possibly 27, 2022. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Kremlin by way of REUTERS

ZURICH, Might 27 (Reuters) – Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer explained Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed him on Friday that Moscow would satisfy its all-natural gas shipping and delivery commitments to Austria and was ready to examine a prisoner swap with Ukraine.

Nehammer built the opinions to reporters just after the two leaders held a 45-moment telephone contact that Nehammer explained as a probability to confront Putin with the realities of the war in Ukraine and discuss potential clients for humanitarian options.

Asked what Putin experienced instructed him about gasoline deliveries, the Austrian conservative mentioned: “He also lifted the matter (and reported) that all deliveries would be completed in comprehensive.”

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In a separate assertion, the Kremlin reported Russia had reaffirmed its commitment to provide pure fuel to Austria, which will get 80{a9fceaa179c66de81d6ded78cc148e55a417461f5e6dc2313e6c9f59f0d2b556} of its gas from Russia.

Nehammer, who frequented Russia very last thirty day period for talks with Putin, mentioned the Russian chief had expressed readiness to talk about a prisoner swap with Ukraine.

“Whether or not he is definitely completely ready to negotiate is a advanced question,” he additional.

Russia describes the three-thirty day period-aged incursion as a exclusive navy procedure to disarm its neighbour and take out risky nationalists from electricity. The Kyiv and its allies in the West say the charge is bogus and says the invasion of Ukraine is an unprovoked attack.

Nehammer mentioned Putin experienced frequently defended Moscow’s actions and blamed Western sanctions for financial disruptions that ensued. He stated he considered Putin was creating details on the team to get into negotiations.

Putin was “totally conscious” of the difficulty of food security, Nehammer mentioned of the conversation, introducing Putin “gave alerts” that he was prepared to enable exports about seaports but had joined progress to the lifting of Western sanctions.

The Kremlin statement claimed Putin had reviewed get the job done to be certain the basic safety of navigation in the Azov and Black Seas, saying Ukraine should obvious ports of mines to permit the absolutely free passage of blocked ships.

The United States and many others accuse Russia of blockading Ukraine’s ports. browse a lot more

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Reporting by Michael Shields, modifying by Thomas Escritt and Jon Boyle

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