IRIA News

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held the first phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in two years on November 15, 2024. The phone call, which lasted for about an hour and was conducted at Berlin’s request, ended the Western isolation over the Ukraine war.

According to official statements, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, withdraw Russian troops, and engage in meaningful negotiations for a peaceful resolution.

Scholz emphasized that any decisions regarding Ukraine’s sovereignty must involve Ukraine as a direct participant. Additionally, he reaffirmed Germany’s unwavering support for Ukraine, combining this with a commitment to pursuing diplomatic avenues to resolve the conflict​.

German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Chancellor Scholz condemned “Russia’s war of aggression” during the conversation and emphasized that Russia has not achieved any of its war objectives and called on Putin to end the Russian aggression and withdraw its troops.

The German government spokesperson, “The chancellor urged Russia to show [a] willingness to enter talks with Ukraine with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace,” adding that German Chancellor Scholz also highlighted “Germany’s unbroken determination to back Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression for as long as necessary.”

The German chancellor also expressed deep concern about the humanitarian crisis caused by the war and called for unhindered delivery of aid to affected regions. Scholz pointed out the war’s wider repercussions, including its destabilizing effects on global energy supplies and food security, urging steps to mitigate these issues​.

Scholz also raised concerns about the presence of North Korean troops in Russia and their involvement in the ongoing war with Ukraine. The German sources said that the German chancellor expressed his concerns about the presence of the 11,000 North Korean troops that are fighting on behalf of Russia and termed it as a serious escalation.

The Russian government said that the phone call was held at the German chancellor’s request and the Russian president told Scholz that any agreement to end the war in Ukraine must take Russian security interests into account and reflect “new territorial realities.”

According to the Kremlin statement, President Putin also told German Chancellor Scholz that Russia is willing to consider energy deals with Germany if Berlin is interested. Both German and Russian leaders agreed to remain in contact.

Scholz’s talks with Putin come at a time when the German leader faces a snap election on February 23 next year and Europe is awaiting U.S. President-elect Donal Trump’s plan for the Russia-Ukraine war.

Zelenskyy said the call opened a “Pandora’s box”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized the German chancellor’s move by saying that the phone call to Putin opened a “Pandora’s box” and undermined efforts to isolate Russian President Putin.

Although Zelenskyy said that German Chancellor Scholz informed him about his planned phone call to Putin, the Ukrainian president said, “This is exactly what Putin has long sought. It is critical for him to weaken his isolation, as well as Russia’s isolation, and to hold mere talks that will lead nowhere. He has been doing this for decades.”

Chancellor Scholz told me that he planned to call Putin. His call, in my opinion, opens Pandora’s Box. There may now be other conversations and phone calls. Just a lot of words.

And this is exactly what Putin has long sought. It is critical for him to weaken his isolation, as… pic.twitter.com/zcTydmnxsM

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 15, 2024

Zelenskyy further highlighted, “This has allowed Russia to avoid making any changes to its policies, effectively doing nothing, which has ultimately led to this war. We understand all the current challenges and we know what to do. And we want to make it clear: there will be no “Minsk-3”; we need real peace.”

Two days prior to Scholz-Putin talks, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz. Both leaders discussed the delivery of the German-made IRIS-T air defense system and air defense assistance for Ukraine as well as coordinated joint steps for the future.

The German officials clarified that Chancellor Scholz plans to brief Ukrainian President Zelenskyy as well as European and NATO allies and partners on the outcome of his phone call with Putin.