Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer mentioned he raised alleged Russian atrocities in Ukraine throughout a "powerful" and unfriendly assembly with Vladimir Putin - the primary Western sit-down with the Russian President since he launched his invasion in February.
"This isn't a pleasant go to. I've simply come from Ukraine and have seen with my very own eyes the immeasurable struggling brought on by the Russian struggle of aggression," Mr Nehammer was quoted as saying in an announcement issued by his workplace after the assembly exterior Moscow.
Mr Nehammer is the primary European chief to fulfill Mr Putin face-to-face since his invasion of Ukraine. His go to divided opinion amongst European Union leaders, with some expressing scepticism about partaking with the Russian chief.
The pair spoke for about 75 minutes at Mr Putin's Novo-Ogaryovo residence close to Moscow, Mr Nehammer's spokesperson mentioned, in talks the Austrian chief described as "very direct, open and difficult."
Earlier than visiting Russia, Mr Nehammer met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and visited the city of Bucha, the place our bodies of unarmed civilians had been discovered strewn throughout public streets after a month of Russian occupation.
''I addressed the intense struggle crimes in Bucha and different locations and emphasised that each one these liable for them should be held accountable," Mr Nehammer mentioned, based on the assertion.
"I additionally advised President Putin in no unsure phrases that sanctions in opposition to Russia will stay in place and can proceed to be tightened so long as individuals are dying in Ukraine."
The Austrian chief mentioned Mr Putin had blamed the Ukrainians for "being liable for the crimes in Bucha".
Video footage, nonetheless, exhibits Russian forces gunning down a civilian there.
Austria is militarily impartial however its authorities has joined its neighbours in condemning Mr Putin's invasion.
The Chancellor mentioned he raised the difficulty of evacuation corridors with Mr Putin, after repeated cases during which tried evacuations round Ukraine have been scuppered by Russian assaults. Ukrainian officers mentioned a Russian strike on Kramatorsk practice station on Friday killed dozens of individuals, together with a number of kids.
Mr Nehammer famous that "it was additionally clear and recognisable that Russian president nonetheless has confidence" within the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.
Forward of the talks on Monday, Lithuania's International Minister forged doubt on their effectiveness, saying of the Russian chief: "I personally don't have any purpose to consider that he is talkable."
Ukraine's international minister mentioned on Sunday it will be "extraordinarily tough" to even take into consideration negotiations with Russia following the atrocities dedicated within the city of Bucha and on the practice station in Kramatorsk.
The exhuming of Ukrainian victims from mass graves in Bucha
Mr Putin appointed a brand new basic to supervise his invasion over the weekend, and the main focus of Russia's forces has turned in the direction of japanese Ukraine after their failure to grab the capital, Kyiv, and different territories within the centre of the nation.