German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz has held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in nearly two years.
This was announced by German Government Spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit.
Hebestreit told reporters that the Chancellor insisted that Russia should demonstrate willingness to hold talks with Ukraine in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.
He pointed out that Scholz also highlighted “Germany’s unwavering determination” to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.” He called on Putin to end the conflict and “withdraw troops.”
Hebestreit revealed that prior to the conversation with Putin, Scholz had held a phone call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy “and will also do it after the conversation with the Russian President.”
Scholz himself wrote on the X social media platform that he had urged the Russian President to end military operations and “withdraw troops.” “Russia should show readiness for talks with Ukraine,” the German Chancellor added.
A source in the Ukrainian presidential office divulged that Zelenskyy was not pleased with the idea of Scholz speaking with Putin.
According to the source, Zelenskyy told Scholz that the conversation with Putin “will only help to reduce the isolation” of Russia.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin disclosed that Putin told the German Chancellor that Russia is open to talks to settle the conflict in Ukraine based on the proposals that were announced at the Foreign Ministry in June.
“As for the prospects for a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict, the Russian President noted that the Russian side has never refused and remains open to the resumption of the negotiations that were interrupted by the Kyiv regime.
“Russia’s proposals are well known and outlined, in particular, in a June speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry.”
Kremlin
The Russian President was quoted as saying that possible agreements should take into account Russia’s interests in the security sphere, “proceed from the new territorial realities and, above all, eliminate the causes of the conflict.”
Scholz And Putin Discuss Russian-German Relations
The Kremlin press service said after their phone call that Scholz and Putin touched on the situation in Russian-German relations
Putin told Scholz that the current unprecedented degradation in Russian-German relations stems from Berlin’s unfriendly policy.
After 2022, Berlin has been pursuing an “openly unfriendly” policy against Russia, supporting the anti-Russian sanctions.
In 2023, Germany closed two Russian consulates – in Hamburg and Leipzig and now only two Russian diplomatic missions – the consulate general in Bonn and the embassy in Berlin – continue operating in Germany.
Also, Putin told the German Chancellor that Russia always fulfilled its obligations in the energy sector in its relations with Germany.
“It was underscored that Russia has always been committed to its treaty and contractual obligations in the energy sector and is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation if the German side shows interest in this.”
Kremlin
Germany reduced energy imports from Russia after 2022.
During 2022, Berlin stopped purchasing Russian coal and oil, and also reduced the share of gas purchases.
As a result of sabotage, gas cannot flow through the Nord Stream gas pipelines. All this has led to the “threat of an energy crisis and a long-term recession in the German economy.”
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