Scholz calls Putin on the phone – his first phone call in almost two years

It is the first telephone conversation between the Federal Chancellor and the Russian President in almost two years. Scholz had previously emphasized several times that he was ready to talk to Putin about possible solutions to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. But Volodimir Zelensky reacts critically to the initiative.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz made good on his announcement and spoke on the phone again with Russian leader Vladimir Putin after a break of almost two years. The conversation took place early on Friday afternoon after lengthy preparations and lasted about an hour. Scholz had recently repeatedly confirmed that he was ready to have another telephone conversation with Putin to look for solutions to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The Kremlin had also shown itself open to such a telephone call. The last phone call took place on December 2, 2022.