According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin reminded Emmanuel Macron, that the current escalation in eastern Ukraine was caused by Kyiv's soldiers.

The Kremlin described how "The Russian president noted that the provocations of the Ukrainian forces were the reason for the escalation," adding that during a phone call with Macton, Putin expressed "serious concern" regarding the escalation.

Yesterday, the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) announced a general mobilization in the two republics.

For some time now, Kyiv has been pushing additional forces and heavy military equipment to the line of contact separating its armed forces from the forces of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, which raises the tension in the Donbass region.

On several occasions, Moscow declared that Kyiv does not comply with the Minsk agreements aimed at resolving the conflict.

Earlier, Russia's Foreign Ministry mentioned that Kyiv had sent half of its armed forces personnel to Donbass.

Putin: US, NATO, must be serious regarding Russian security demands

During the phone call with Macron, Putin told the French President that NATO and the US must be serious regarding Russian security demands.

After the call, the Kremlin detailed how "Vladimir Putin reiterated the need for the US and NATO to treat Russia's demands on ensuring security guarantees seriously and gave a concrete and substantive response."

The Kremlin reported that Macron and Putin agreed to continue their interactions and noted that both leaders agreed to the importance of boosting possible solutions to the Donbass crisis with Normandy Four diplomats and political advisers.

Additionally, the leaders also agreed to organize a meeting of a working group in the coming hours in order to have a ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine.