The new communication between Scholz and Putin — their first since December 2022 — comes at a time of speculation about what the new administration of President-elect Trump will mean for Ukraine.
November 16, 2024German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends the Bundestag's Committee of Inquiry into Afghanistan, in Berlin Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin leader's first publicly announced conversation with the sitting head of a major Western power in nearly two years. Scholz urged Putin to be open to negotiations with Ukraine, his office said.
Washington has been Ukraine's biggest military backer, but Trump has repeatedly questioned the amount of aid being given to Ukraine. While Trump has suggested he could settle the war quickly, Ukraine has ruled out giving up any territory to Moscow in return for peace. Scholz condemned Russian air raids on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and warned that the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to fight in the war would mark a serious escalation. The U.S., South Korea and Ukraine say North Korea has sent thousands of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.The Kremlin said Germany initiated the call, during which the leaders had a"detailed and frank exchange of opinions on the situation in Ukraine.
Putin also said Russia remains open to resuming peace talks, pointing to conditions he laid out in June that included Kyiv renouncing its bid to join NATO and withdrawing troops from the four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed in 2022.
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