MOSCOW. March 31 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store over the phone, the Kremlin's press service said.
"Putin has given a detailed account of the reasons for the special military operation, which aims at protecting Donbas, as well as its goals and objectives. Emphasis has been put on humanitarian affairs, first and foremost the effort towards providing security of the civilian population and opening humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians from combat zones, including Mariupol," the press service said.
The Russian president "has also informed [the Norwegian prime minister] about talks between the Russian and Ukrainian representatives, the latest round of which has recently taken place in Istanbul," it said.
The interlocutors agreed to stay in touch, the press service said.