Many weeks have passed since Olaf Scholz last spoke to Vladimir Putin. Now the chancellor is making demands.
Berlin/Moscow – After several months, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) for the first time again with the Russian President Wladimir Putin on the phone. In the 90-minute conversation on Tuesday (September 13), Scholz insisted that a diplomatic solution be found as soon as possible Ukraine War come down to a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Ukraine based, announced government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
“The Chancellor emphasized that any further Russian annexation steps would not go unanswered and would not be recognized under any circumstances,” Hebestreit continued. According to a government spokesman, Scholz last spoke to Putin on the phone at the end of May. At that time, Scholz and the French President spoke Emmanuel Macron together with the Russian President.
Ukraine war: Scholz points out to Putin the recommended measures for the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
Since the phone call in May there have been further dramatic developments in the war zone. According to the federal government, the conversation on Tuesday also dealt with the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. Scholz emphasized the need to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant occupied by Russian forces. Hebestreit announced that he had also called for any escalation steps to be avoided and for the measures recommended in the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency to be implemented immediately.
Another topic was the global food situation, which is particularly tense as a result of the Russian war of aggression. In the meantime, Ukraine is also defending itself against the attackers with support from the West. In the past few days, Ukrainian troops have managed to regain large areas.
The Kremlin’s statement about the phone call did not indicate that Putin would give in. The president drew the chancellor’s attention to the “outrageous violations” by the Ukrainians of international humanitarian law, it said. The Ukrainian army is shelling cities in the Donbass and killing civilians there. In the dispute over gas supplies, Putin emphasized that Russia is a reliable supplier. However, Western sanctions prevented proper maintenance of the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 1. Berlin considers this reason for the delivery stop via the pipeline, which has already been put forward several times, to be advanced. (nak/dpa)
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