Germany’s Scholz speaks to Russia’s Putin for first time in two years

The Russian leader said he is unfastened to talks, but intends to support nan territory Moscow seized successful Ukraine.

The leaders of Russia and Germany person had their first speech successful almost 2 years arsenic Western countries hole for nan incoming Trump management that has signalled its intent to extremity nan warfare successful Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz initiated a telephone telephone pinch Russian President Vladimir Putin connected Friday, which reportedly lasted astir an hr and revolved astir different aspects of nan Ukraine war.

Scholz, who is facing a threat predetermination successful February after his authorities conjugation collapsed, urged Putin to discuss pinch Ukraine pinch nan purpose of achieving a “just and lasting peace” ” authorities spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said successful a statement.

He besides expressed German support for Ukraine “for arsenic agelong arsenic necessary”, condemned Russian attacks connected Ukrainian infrastructure, and warned that nan deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers connected Russian ungraded to conflict disconnected nan Ukrainian battle connected Kursk would people an escalation.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz talks to Russian President Vladimir Putin connected nan telephone [Steffen Kugler/BPA/Handout via Reuters]

Putin said nan existent situation is simply a nonstop consequence of NATO’s fierce policies successful what was described by nan Kremlin arsenic “a elaborate and frank speech of opinions”.

“Possible agreements must return into relationship nan interests of nan Russian Federation successful nan area of security, proceed from caller territorial realities, and astir importantly, destruct nan guidelines causes of nan conflict,” nan Russian leader said.

Putin and Scholz besides reportedly discussed bilateral relations, pinch nan erstwhile saying Moscow remains fresh for “mutually beneficial cooperation” including connected power waste and acquisition if nan aforesaid position is shared by Berlin.

The telephone comes astatine a difficult clip for Ukraine’s military, pinch Russian forces advancing successful respective areas successful eastbound Ukraine. The re-election of Donald Trump arsenic US president besides raises questions complete nan early of US assistance to Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said nan telephone opened “Pandora’s box” by undermining efforts to isolate nan Russian leader. “Now location whitethorn beryllium different conversations, different calls. Just a batch of words. And this is precisely what Putin has agelong wanted: it is highly important for him to weaken his isolation,” Zelenskyy said successful his evening address.

Scholz said pinch Zelenskyy earlier and aft nan telephone pinch Putin.

Reporting from Berlin, Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane said nan telephone was mostly being seen successful narration to Trump’s re-election and nan upcoming predetermination successful Germany.

“The proposal coming from various media outlets is that this is to beryllium viewed done nan prism of what’s happening successful Washington, DC and nan attack from nan looming Donald Trump administration,” he said.

“Another constituent is that there’s going to beryllium a wide predetermination successful Germany, 100 days from today. The warfare successful Ukraine is simply a increasing issue. Many group successful this country, peculiarly successful nan aged east, want an extremity to nan warfare successful Ukraine and specifically an extremity to Germany financing and arming nan Ukrainians.”

President-elect Trump has asserted he will extremity nan warfare successful Ukraine but has not fixed details. Vice President-elect JD Vance has suggested a 2nd Trump management will beryllium successful favour of allowing Russia to support nan Ukrainian onshore it has seized during nan war.

The outgoing Biden management has signalled it will fortify its support for Ukraine earlier it leaves nan White House successful January.

The telephone telephone betwixt nan Russian and German leaders comes arsenic fighting continues to rage successful eastbound Ukraine, wherever Russian forces person been inching guardant successful caller months.

The Russian subject besides continues to nonstop aerial strikes against subject and civilian infrastructure successful Ukraine, hitting a residential building and a boiler works successful Odesa successful 1 of its latest attacks connected Friday.

Russia denies targeting civilians successful Ukraine.