Putin discusses Ukraine crisis with Luxembourg's prime minister

MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine with Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel in a phone call on Monday.

Putin told Bettel about Moscow’s “special military operation” in Donbas and the ongoing peace talks with Ukraine, a Kremlin statement said.

On Bettel’s request, Putin “informed him about the Russian special military operation to protect Donbas, explaining in detail its goals and objectives, and also spoke about the state of affairs at the ongoing negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives,” read the statement.

Moscow’s war on Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 596 civilians have been killed and 1,067 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to the UN, which has said that conditions on the ground make it difficult to verify the true number.

More than 2.8 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, said the UN refugee agency.