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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the primary time in almost two years, as western powers place for an incoming Trump administration that has made ending the Ukraine battle a precedence.
Scholz’s spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit stated that in an hour-long cellphone name on Friday the German chief “condemned the Russian battle of aggression in opposition to Ukraine and referred to as on President Putin to finish it and withdraw his troops”.
He added that the chancellor additionally burdened Germany’s “steadfast dedication” to assist Ukraine in its combat in opposition to Russian aggression “so long as is critical”.
A Kremlin readout of the decision, which it stated had taken place on Berlin’s initiative, described it as a “detailed and frank change of views concerning the scenario in Ukraine”.
Officers stated Scholz and Putin had “agreed to stay in touch”.
The name occurred at a crucial time for Ukraine, with Russian troops intensifying their assaults and advancing into Ukrainian territory at a quicker charge than at any level since 2022.
Trump’s victory in final week’s US presidential election has additionally raised doubts about future US assist to Kyiv. The president-elect promised earlier than the November 5 ballot to dealer a “honest and fast deal” to finish the battle.
The dialog additionally got here at a tough time for Scholz, who final week pulled the plug on his coalition authorities, paving the best way for snap elections on February 23. Present polls recommend his Social Democrats (SPD) are heading for a heavy defeat.
Scholz has in latest months pushed for an additional Ukraine peace convention, which ideally Russia would attend. This might comply with the convention held in Switzerland final summer season, at which Russia was not current.
The German chief’s final bodily assembly with Putin was in Moscow only a few days earlier than he unleashed his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
However in latest days Scholz burdened that he was prepared to speak to Putin, and was ready for the proper second.
Berlin stated Scholz telephoned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier than Friday’s name and would accomplish that once more after it.
The Kremlin stated Putin “reminded” Scholz that Nato had triggered the disaster with its “years-long aggressive coverage”. Russia “was nonetheless open to a revival of talks”, the assertion added, so long as they took under consideration Moscow’s safety pursuits and eliminated “the foundation causes of the battle”.
German officers stated that in his dialog with Putin, Scholz condemned specifically the Russian air assaults on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, saying the battle had introduced “demise, struggling and destruction to Ukraine for nearly 1,000 days”.
They stated he additionally made clear that the deployment of North Korean troopers on fight missions in Russia represented a “severe escalation and enlargement of the battle”.
The officers stated Scholz had burdened the “long-term nature” of Germany’s assist for Ukraine and had advised Putin he “can’t rely on time being on his aspect”.
Berlin will inform its allies and companions in addition to the leaders of the EU and Nato concerning the content material of the dialog, authorities sources stated.
Germany is the second-largest supplier of navy assist to Ukraine after the US, having donated almost €30bn to the nation for the reason that begin of the battle.
Simply final month Scholz pledged an extra €1.4bn in navy assist to Ukraine by the tip of the yr. The bundle, supplied collectively with Belgium, Denmark and Norway, consists of Iris-T air defence methods in addition to tanks, armoured automobiles, fight drones, radar methods and artillery munition.
Nonetheless, Scholz has rejected Ukrainian calls for to produce German Taurus cruise missiles, which have a spread of as much as 500km, saying such a transfer might result in Germany turning into a celebration to the battle.
Many in Scholz’s SPD are additionally frightened concerning the rising proof of war-weariness amongst German voters. The far-right Various for Germany and leftist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, which each demand an instantaneous cease to German weapons provides to Ukraine and talks to finish the battle, have seen their assist surge in latest months.