The German chancellor spoke with Putin for the first time in two years amid signs that European leaders are softening on negotiations with the Kremlin.
Mr Scholz urged the Russian president to “negotiate with Ukraine” in order to restore “just and lasting peace”, according to a German government spokesman.
Putin said any peace deal would have to take Russia’s security interests into account and reflect “new territorial realities”, according to a read-out from the Kremlin.
On Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the call, saying Mr Scholz had opened “Pandora’s box”.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement: “Talk only give[s] Putin hope of easing his international isolation.
“What is needed are concrete, strong actions that will force him to peace, not persuasion and attempts at appeasement, which he sees as a sign of weakness and uses to his advantage.”
Mr Scholz plans to brief Mr Zelensky, Germany’s allies, partners and the heads of the European Union and Nato on the outcome of Friday’s call. Putin and Mr Scholz agreed to stay in contact, government sources said.
The Kremlin said that deep divisions remained with Germany but the fact of dialogue with Scholz was “positive”.
In a further sign of EU leaders’ openness to talks, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, plans to make his first visit to an EU country since the war began next month.
He is set to attend the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s December meeting in Malta. The group monitored the front lines after Russia seized parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014.
It was reported that EU attendees may not stage a walk-out when he speaks, as many did when he spoke at the UN in New York.
“The war will end, but there is no exact date,” he told local radio. “Certainly, with the policies of this team that will now lead the White House, the war will end sooner.”
Why would he? He just won the lottery (again) with Trump.
Naive move, isn‘t it 🙈
Or what?
Call?! Putin doesn’t need a call, he needs a ball and chains.
I take this as the last try to find a peaceful resolution before Germany takes the lead against Putin by escalating the deployment of weapons and force.
that just shows that the west have no idea.
Just give the Ukrainians long range weapons already, how much more do they have to endure?
GIVE UKRAINE WEAPONS AND LET THEM USE THEM HOWEVER THEY SEE FIT. thank you for coming to my ted talk
Great idea. Trump was just elected. Olaf’s government is collapsing. The West did nothing about NK’s involvement. Putin will definitely react well to weakness. What an ass.
Urgh, Germans first to fold in anticipation of American leadership disappearing in January.
Better the Europeans take the lead on this and get it finished.
12 comments
From The Telegraph:
Olaf Scholz held a phone call with Vladimir Putin on Friday in an attempt to bring about an [end to the war in Ukraine](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/).
The German chancellor spoke with Putin for the first time in two years amid signs that European leaders are softening on negotiations with the Kremlin.
Donald Trump’s election victory has [added fresh impetus](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2024/11/14/tulsi-gabbard-donald-trump-us-intelligence/) to the search for a peace deal, with the president-elect appearing ready to cut aid to Kyiv after promising to end the conflict on “day one” of his administration.
Mr Scholz urged the Russian president to “negotiate with Ukraine” in order to restore “just and lasting peace”, according to a German government spokesman.
Putin said any peace deal would have to take Russia’s security interests into account and reflect “new territorial realities”, according to a read-out from the Kremlin.
The German chancellor revealed plans to speak to Putin on Sunday, when he spoke with Mr Trump to discuss working “[toward a return to peace in Europe](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/11/10/donald-trump-phone-call-putin-not-escalate-ukraine-war/)”.
On Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the call, saying Mr Scholz had opened “Pandora’s box”.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement: “Talk only give[s] Putin hope of easing his international isolation.
“What is needed are concrete, strong actions that will force him to peace, not persuasion and attempts at appeasement, which he sees as a sign of weakness and uses to his advantage.”
In the call, Putin told Mr Scholz that Russia was willing to consider fresh energy deals with Germany. Berlin was [heavily reliant on Russian gas](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/06/12/putins-gazprom-ordered-to-pay-13bn-to-german-energy-giant/) before the war but direct shipments ceased when pipelines under the Baltic Sea were blown up in 2022.
Mr Scholz plans to brief Mr Zelensky, Germany’s allies, partners and the heads of the European Union and Nato on the outcome of Friday’s call. Putin and Mr Scholz agreed to stay in contact, government sources said.
The Kremlin said that deep divisions remained with Germany but the fact of dialogue with Scholz was “positive”.
In a further sign of EU leaders’ openness to talks, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, plans to make his first visit to an EU country since the war began next month.
He is set to attend the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s December meeting in Malta. The group monitored the front lines after Russia seized parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014.
It was reported that EU attendees may not stage a walk-out when he speaks, as many did when he spoke at the UN in New York.
On Friday, Mr Zelensky said the [war would “end faster”](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/10/donald-trump-will-hurt-america-if-he-allows-putins-victory/) with Mr Trump in charge of the White House.
“The war will end, but there is no exact date,” he told local radio. “Certainly, with the policies of this team that will now lead the White House, the war will end sooner.”
Why would he? He just won the lottery (again) with Trump.
Naive move, isn‘t it 🙈
Or what?
Call?! Putin doesn’t need a call, he needs a ball and chains.
I take this as the last try to find a peaceful resolution before Germany takes the lead against Putin by escalating the deployment of weapons and force.
that just shows that the west have no idea.
Just give the Ukrainians long range weapons already, how much more do they have to endure?
GIVE UKRAINE WEAPONS AND LET THEM USE THEM HOWEVER THEY SEE FIT. thank you for coming to my ted talk
Great idea. Trump was just elected. Olaf’s government is collapsing. The West did nothing about NK’s involvement. Putin will definitely react well to weakness. What an ass.
Urgh, Germans first to fold in anticipation of American leadership disappearing in January.
Better the Europeans take the lead on this and get it finished.
Comments are closed.