(CLO) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (November 15), the first in nearly two years, to discuss the situation in Ukraine and other issues.
In a phone call quickly denounced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mr Scholz urged President Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine and start negotiations with Kiev to pave the way for a “just and lasting peace”, according to a German government statement.
The Kremlin said the conversation took place at Berlin's request and that President Putin told Mr Scholz that any deal to end the war in Ukraine must take into account Russia's security interests and reflect "new territorial realities".
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his advisers during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Berlin, Germany. Photo: Steffen Kugler
President Zelenskyy criticized the call as breaking the diplomatic isolation that the West has sought to impose on President Putin since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began. According to sources close to the matter, Mr Zelenskyy and other European officials criticized Mr Scholz for the move.
Chancellor Scholz is having a tough time in domestic politics. His Social Democratic Party has lost popularity and will face snap elections on February 23 next year.
"The chancellor calls on Russia to show goodwill in negotiations with Ukraine with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace," a German government spokesman said in a statement.
However, Ukraine said the phone calls with Mr Putin did not add any value to the path to achieving a “just peace” in Ukraine and only helped the Russian president ease his isolation.
“Now there could be other conversations, other calls. Just a lot of words,” Mr Zelenskyy said, almost resentfully. “And this is exactly what Putin has wanted for a long time: it is extremely important for him to ease his isolation and hold normal negotiations.”
The surprise phone call between the German Chancellor and Mr. Putin took place in the context of Donald Trump, who had declared that he would soon end the war in Ukraine, having just been elected President of the United States. The last time Mr. Scholz and Mr. Putin spoke was in December 2022, 10 months after Russia's conflict with Ukraine.
“This sends a bad signal, especially after Trump’s election,” said one Western diplomat, noting that their countries had told Berlin it was not a good idea.
The Kremlin said President Putin also told Mr Scholz that Russia was ready to consider energy deals if Germany was interested. Germany relied heavily on Russian gas in the past, but supplies were cut off when pipelines under the Baltic Sea were sabotaged in 2022.
Chancellor Scholz plans to brief Mr Zelenskyy, as well as Western allies and partners, on the outcome of Friday's call, German officials said, adding that the two leaders agreed to stay in touch.
Hoang Anh (according to DW, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/thu-tuong-duc-bat-ngo-dien-dam-voi-ong-putin-tong-thong-ukraine-khong-hai-long-post321571.html
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