"If you read the two extracts of the conversation, so it is clear that Russia really does not want to make any concessions," EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kalas said.

The EU's top diplomat said Vladimir Putin's talks with US President Donald Trump had shown Russia was not interested in "concessions" on Ukraine, and insisted the Kremlin's demands to stop arming Kiev could not be accepted.
"If you read the two excerpts of the conversation, so it's clear that Russia really doesn't want to make any concessions," EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kalas said.
In talks with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on Tuesday, Putin agreed to stop attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities but refused a full ceasefire unless the West halted all military aid to Kiev.
Kallas said that demand from the Kremlin "cannot be accepted."
"What Russia wants is for Ukraine to let down all its guards," she said.
"If they achieve that, that there will be no military aid to Ukraine, then they will be able to proceed because the Ukrainians cannot defend themselves. So I mean, it's clear that that can't work."
Washington is pushing for an immediate 30-day ceasefire as a first step to end the three-year war.
But while the long-awaited talks did not secure the breakthrough ceasefire approved by Ukraine last week, it did lead to a reduced commitment to halt attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days.
Hours after the talks, explosions and air raid sirens were heard in Ukraine as Moscow launched a new air assault.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had struck civilian infrastructure, including a hospital, and accused the Kremlin of effectively rejecting the US-backed ceasefire. | BGNES