Putin, Macron call for 'complete' halt to fighting in Karabakh: Kremlin
Updated 08:58, 01-Oct-2020
CGTN
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. /Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. /Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces around the Nagorno-Karabakh region following a call, the Kremlin said on Thursday.  

"Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron called on the warring sides to halt fire completely and as soon as possible, de-escalate tensions and show maximum restraint," the Kremlin said. 

The leaders expressed "readiness" to see a statement made on behalf of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. – that would call for an "immediate" end to fighting and start of talks, the Kremlin said. Putin also noted Russia's "principled position" that "any attempts to interfere in internal affairs of a sovereign state and outside pressure on legitimate authorities are unacceptable," the Kremlin said. 

Armenia and Azerbaijan vowed to keep fighting and rejected international calls for negotiations on Wednesday as clashes over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region raged for a fourth day.  

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. /VCG

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. /VCG

Meanwhile, Russia on Wednesday offered to host talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan in an attempt to de-escalate the fighting and tensions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while calling for a de-escalation in hostilities, also offered to host negotiations in the Russian capital, Moscow.

A statement from the ministry asserted the Russian government's "readiness" to organize necessary contacts, including holding the next meeting of foreign ministers from the three countries.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has already called on the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders to take immediate steps to establish a ceasefire and resume negotiations to prevent instability in the region.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a territorial dispute over the ethnic Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh for decades, with deadly fighting flaring up earlier this year and in 2016.

The two countries have contested the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988. Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a ceasefire was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes along the borders.

Fighting escalated sharply between the two countries on Monday, and both sides hit each other with rockets and artillery.

Moscow has a defense alliance with Armenia, which provides vital support to the enclave and is its lifeline to the outside world, while Turkey backs its ethnic Turkic kin in Azerbaijan.

(With input from agencies)