Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of unwittingly supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin after Scholz’s first phone call with the Kremlin leader in nearly two years.
During the conversation, Scholz “condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and urged President Putin to put an end to it and pull back troops,” as stated by the chancellor’s spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit.
Scholz also “encouraged Russia to demonstrate a willingness to negotiate with Ukraine toward achieving a fair and lasting peace,” Hebestreit added in a statement.
Furthermore, Scholz emphasized “Germany’s steadfast commitment to support Ukraine in its battle against Russian aggression for as long as necessary.”
Russian officials reported a ‘detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine’
According to Russian officials, Mr. Putin had a “detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine” with Mr. Scholz, with the call being initiated by Germany.
During the call, Putin informed the German chancellor that any accord to conclude the war in Ukraine “must consider the security interests of the Russian Federation,” according to the Kremlin.
Any agreement should “take into account the new territorial realities and, importantly, address the underlying causes of the conflict.”
Russia has insisted that Ukraine surrender four regions as a prerequisite for negotiations, a demand that Ukraine has firmly rejected.
Ukraine contact
Prior to his conversation with Mr. Putin, the German leader spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Mr. Scholz’s spokesman.
The chancellor and the Ukrainian leader communicated “before and will do so again following the discussion with the Russian president,” the spokesman stated.
This call between Mr. Scholz and the Russian leader marks their first contact since December 2022.
I spoke to President Putin on the phone and called on him to end the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and to withdraw his troops. Russia must show willingness to negotiate with Ukraine – with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace. pic.twitter.com/zsfdgfeOfN
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) November 15, 2024
During the hour-long discussion, Mr. Scholz “strongly condemned the Russian air strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine,” as reported by a German government source.
“He made it clear that sending North Korean soldiers to Russia for combat operations against Ukraine would result in a significant escalation and expansion of the conflict,” the source noted.
Germany will keep NATO and EU allies updated on the discussions, while both the German and Russian leaders agreed to maintain ongoing communication.
Mr. Scholz’s December 2022 call with Putin remains the last known phone interaction between the Kremlin leader and a major Western head of state.
Trump factor
Mr. Trump stated on the campaign trail that he could resolve the conflict within hours.
Nearly 1,000 days after Russia began its full-scale invasion, Ukraine is preparing for what could be its toughest winter yet during the war.
The country faces a challenging winter as the conflict, initiated in February 2022 with Russia’s large-scale invasion, continues to take its toll.
A significant portion of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been devastated by Russian attacks, leaving Ukrainian forces increasingly on the defensive.
Germany has been one of Ukraine’s foremost military backers, trailing only the United States in the assistance given to the afflicted nation.
However, the election of Mr. Trump, who has criticized aid to Ukraine during his campaign, has cast doubt on Washington’s future support.
Mr. Trump indicated on the campaign trail that he could end the fighting within hours and has suggested he would engage in direct talks with Mr. Putin.
Read more: Trump and the EU: Everything Everywhere all at Once
Russia has denied suggestions that Mr. Putin and the incoming President of the United States recently discussed the Ukraine situation over the phone.
Mr. Scholz, who did have a conversation with Trump following his election victory, remarked to the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung that the new US leader held a “more nuanced” view on the conflict than often perceived.
