By Deutsche Welle (World News) | Created at 2024-11-15 15:06:43 | Updated at 2024-11-23 09:24:23
1 week ago
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly spoke on the phone for around an hour on Friday, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in Berlin.
Scholz was said to have urged Putin to show willingness to negotiate a "just and lasting" peace with Ukraine.
The spokesman also said Scholz had spoken with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy beforehand, and that the chancellor had reiterated Germany would support Ukraine for as long as necessary.
What did Scholz tell Putin, according to his government?
Insiders in Scholz's government issued an off-the-record summary of the call to various outlets, including DW, offering more details.
They said that Scholz condemned the war of aggression against Ukraine, "which has brought death, suffering and destruction to Ukraine for more than 1,000 days now."
"The chancellor particularly condemned Russian air attacks against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine," they said.
Scholz also criticized the potential deployment of North Korean troops in the conflict as a "serious escalation."
Scholz called on Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine and "pressed for a willingness from Russia for serious negotiations with Ukraine with the goal of a just and lasting peace."
EU and NATO confirm continued backing for Ukraine
The chancellor, whose time in the office may now be limited after developments in Berlin last week, was also said to have "emphasized Germany's unshakable commitment to support Ukraine in its defensive battle for as long as is necessary."
He told Putin that as a result of this, the Russian leader could not assume time was on his side.
The two leaders agreed to remain in contact on the issue, according to the insiders.
Berlin's government was also in the process of informing NATO allies of the details.
Trump coming, and Scholz quite probably going
The call comes within 10 days of news of Donald Trump's election win in the US, potentially heralding a change in position in Washington, and little more than a week after news that Olaf Scholz might be leaving his post fairly soon after.
This is a developing story, updates will follow.
msh/ab (AFP, dpa, Reuters)
