MOSCOW, May 29, 2022 (BSS/TASS) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a

telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue peace talks
with Kiev, the Kremlin press service said on Saturday.

"Special attention was given to the state of affairs on the negotiating
track, which is frozen because of Kiev. Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia is
open to resuming the dialogue," the statement said.

Western weapons

Putin, in a telephone conversation with Macron and Scholz, stressed the
danger of pumping Ukraine with Western weapons, the Kremlin press service
said.

"The Russian President also highlighted the issue of dangerous ongoing
pumping of Ukraine with Western weapons, warning of the risks of further
destabilization of the situation and aggravation of the humanitarian crisis,"
the statement said.

Problems with food

Problems with food supplies were caused by anti-Russian sanctions and other
mistakes of the West, Russian President said in a telephone conversation, the
press service reported.

"Based on specific data, Vladimir Putin explained the real reasons for the
difficulties with food supplies, which were the result of the misguided
economic and financial policies of Western countries, as well as the anti-
Russian sanctions they imposed," the statement said.

The Kremlin noted, "Russia is ready to help find options for unhampered
exports of grain, including exports of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea
ports". "Increasing supplies of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products
will also help reduce tension on the global food market, which, of course,
would require removing the relevant restrictions," the statement said.

"The leaders agreed to continue contacts," the Kremlin said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier, the global food crisis
happened long before the start of the military operation in Ukraine, due to
factors such as the pandemic, and miscalculations of Western countries. At
the same time, Lavrov added that the current situation has exacerbated the
problem, and Western sanctions have become one of the key reasons for the
disruption of food supplies, which worsened the crisis.