Putin and Macron spoke about the situation in Ukraine.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron reviewed the situation in Ukraine.

“Vladimir Putin and President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron had a serious and open exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine during a telephone discussion made at the suggestion of the French side,” said a Kremlin statement.

Putin spoke into great detail on the reasons for and circumstances surrounding the decision to launch a special military operation. Both sides decided to keep in touch. Local media claimed on Friday that a number of explosions were heard in Ukraine’s capital city as the Russian special military operation started its second day. Putin acknowledged Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukraine’s separatist regions, as autonomous states on Monday. Later, Putin ordered special military operations in the Donbas area “to safeguard” the population. Several nations have denounced Russia’s military activities and put sanctions on Moscow, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and the European Union.