German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, marking the first direct communication between the two leaders in almost two years, according to German media reports. The discussion lasted around an hour, focusing mainly on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a recent interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Scholz was asked whether he feared a potential backroom deal between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin regarding Ukraine. Scholz dismissed this concern, saying there was “no indication of this” based on previous conversations with Trump.
Scholz also used the interview to highlight how Putin has failed to meet his key objectives through the invasion of Ukraine. He pointed out that Russia has not succeeded in taking control of the entire country, while NATO has expanded with the addition of Finland and Sweden, becoming “stronger than ever.”
When questioned about why Putin might consider negotiating while Russia is still making military gains, Scholz cautioned against speculating on Putin’s thoughts. “We’ll have to find out — and that includes speaking with him directly,” Scholz remarked.
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