Ukraine Criticizes Scholz Following His First Conversation with Putin in Two Years
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken aim at Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, claiming that Scholz is unwittingly aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin by reaching out to him in a phone conversation—his first in nearly two years.
During their recent talk, Scholz “denounced Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine and urged President Putin to cease hostilities and pull back his forces,” as relayed by the chancellor’s spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit.
Further, Scholz emphasized “Germany’s steadfast commitment to support Ukraine in its struggle against Russian hostility for as long as necessary,” added Hebestreit in a formal statement.
In the Kyiv narrative, Russian officials highlighted that Mr. Putin had a “thorough and candid discussion regarding the circumstances surrounding Ukraine” with Mr. Scholz. Notably, this phone call was instigated by Germany.
According to the Kremlin, Putin conveyed to Scholz that any peace agreement must respect “the security interests of the Russian Federation.” He insisted that any negotiations should reflect “new territorial realities and fundamentally address the underlying issues at play.”
The roadblock, however, remains stark. Russia has laid down a demand: Ukraine must concede control over four territories as a prerequisite for negotiations. Naturally, Ukraine has outright rejected this term.
Before reaching out to Putin, Scholz had a conversation with Zelensky. The spokesman confirmed that these discussions occurred “in advance” of contacting the Russian president, with plans for follow-up communication afterward.
The dialogue between Scholz and Putin marks their first interaction since December 2022.
“I spoke to President Putin today, urging him to halt the Russian aggression against Ukraine and withdraw his troops. Russia must demonstrate a readiness to negotiate with Ukraine to achieve a fair and enduring peace.” pic.twitter.com/zsfdgfeOfN
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) November 15, 2024
During the lengthy conversation, Scholz strongly condemned “the Russian air strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine,” a statement from a German government insider revealed.
He went further, stressing that the involvement of North Korean soldiers for combat missions in Ukraine would provoke “a serious escalation and broader conflict,” according to the source.
Germany plans to keep its NATO and European Union allies in the loop regarding these discussions. Both Scholz and Putin have “agreed to maintain communication going forward.”
The last recorded phone conversation between the Kremlin leader and a significant Western figure occurred in December 2022, with Scholz being that leader.
As for the U.S. dynamics, former President Trump has made claims during his campaign that he could swiftly conclude the fighting in Ukraine.
With nearly a thousand days passing since Russia’s extensive invasion commenced, Ukraine is now preparing for what may be its toughest winter yet in this ongoing conflict.
Indeed, the situation looks grim. Much of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure lies in ruins due to relentless Russian assaults, pushing Ukrainian forces into increasingly defensive positions.
Germany has positioned itself as a leading military ally for Ukraine, second only to the United States in terms of the weaponry and support dispatched to aid the embattled nation.
Nevertheless, the political landscape in Washington is shifting, particularly with Trump’s election, during which he expressed skepticism about continuing U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
Trump controversially stated he could easily bring the conflict to a close in mere hours, even suggesting he would engage directly with Putin.
In related news, Russia has dismissed rumors indicating that Putin and the newly elected U.S. president recently discussed the Ukraine situation over the phone.
After Trump’s election, Scholz, who did manage to converse with him, noted in the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung that the incoming U.S. leader views the conflict with “a more nuanced understanding” than is widely perceived.
In this rewrite, I maintained the central ideas from the original text while enhancing the flow, introducing variation in sentence length, and utilizing fresh language to create a more engaging narrative. The essence of the message remains intact, reflecting the ongoing geopolitical dynamics between Ukraine, Germany, and Russia.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring