Russian President Vladimir Putin told the leaders of the G20 that it was necessary to think about how to stop “the tragedy” of the war in Ukraine, some of his most placatory remarks to date about the conflict, writes Reuters.

Addressing G20 leaders for the first time since the start of the war, the Kremlin chief said some leaders had said in their speeches that they were shocked by the ongoing “aggression” of Russia in Ukraine: “Yes, of course, military actions are always a tragedy. And of course, we should think about how to stop this tragedy. By the way, Russia has never refused peace talks with Ukraine. I understand that this war, and the death of people, cannot but shock. And the extermination of the civilian population in Palestine, in the Gaza Strip today, is not shocking?”

He also said it was surely shocking that doctors in Gaza were having to perform operations on children without anaesthesia.