Putin slams ‘unacceptable’ Karabakh remarks from French leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed “unacceptable” comments from French leader Emmanuel Macron concerning Moscow’s role in the decades-long conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Karabakh region.

In comments to French television on Wednesday, Macron accused Russia of purposefully “destabilizing” and “seeking to create disorder” by provoking the recent clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed Caucasus region.

Putin said during a meeting of the nine leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Kazakhstan that Macron’s remarks “sounded incorrect” and were “unacceptable.”

Macron’s remarks “show a lack of understanding of the course of the conflict,” Putin said, adding that “Russia has always sincerely sought to resolve any conflicts, including issues related to Karabakh.”

Putin also said that the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan were welcome to Russia for talks “at any time in any place.”

He further added that in the future, “There will be an opportunity” to “discuss” the matter with the French leader.

Speaking to France 2 television, Macron claimed Russia had stoked tensions in recent months in favor of Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, Russian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministries met on Friday for peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana.

The trio discussed joint efforts on normalizing Azerbaijani-Armenian ties.

SS