Scholz has spoken to Putin

Published 15 November 2024 at 18.44

Foreign. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in almost two years. The phone call lasted an hour, according to a statement from the German government.

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The call, which took place on November 15, was preceded by talks between Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Another conversation with Zelenskyj is planned.

According to Scholz's office, the chancellor condemned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and called on Putin to end the war and withdraw his troops. Scholz also called for negotiations for a just and lasting peace.

Scholz has previously been criticized for talking to Putin, but he says dialogue is “absolutely necessary” to end the war. At the same time, Germany, second only to the United States, has provided the most support to Ukraine, and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has demanded additional arms deliveries to Kiev.

During a recent conversation between US President-elect Donald Trump and Scholz, the duo is said to have arrived agreed to work to “return to peace in Europe”.