Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a phone conversation on Friday, as announced by Moscow and Berlin. The discussion came amidst growing uncertainty over the West’s continued support for Ukraine.
Chancellor Scholz expressed his interest on Sunday in exploring potential solutions to end the war in Ukraine, now approaching its third year. Their last conversation was in December 2022, when Scholz urged Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine.
“The Chancellor urged Russia to engage in negotiations with Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace,” a German government spokesperson stated in a written statement on Friday.
The spokesperson added that Scholz informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the call with Putin and planned to update him afterward. However, Zelensky criticized the call later on Friday, describing it as an “attempt at appeasement.”
“This is precisely what Putin has been seeking: reducing his isolation. It’s vital to prevent such attempts,” Zelensky said.
During the call, Scholz reiterated Berlin’s condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, called for an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces, and emphasized Germany’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
Russia’s state-run news agency TASS, citing an unnamed German official, reported that Scholz and Putin agreed to remain in contact. Germany also intends to brief its allies and partners on the conversation.
Later, the Kremlin confirmed the call, describing it as “detailed and frank.” Putin reiterated his claims that NATO was responsible for the war and maintained that Russia remains open to resuming negotiations, which Moscow claims were interrupted by Kyiv.
The Kremlin stated that Putin highlighted Russia’s “well-known” positions, including its security concerns, military stance on the front lines, and addressing the “root causes” of the conflict. He also criticized the deterioration of Russian-German relations, blaming Berlin’s “unfriendly course,” but expressed readiness for energy cooperation should Berlin show interest.
Both nations indicated plans to maintain contact at lower levels, according to the Kremlin.
