Scholz says talks with Putin are important

Negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin are an important step to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said at a press conference on the sidelines of the G20 in Rio de Janeiro on 18 November. This was stated by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a press conference on the margins of the G20 in Rio de Janeiro on November 18, his speech was broadcast by the German TV channel Phoenix.

"We have to act and speak out. So I would also like to say that in my opinion it was and still is the right thing to talk to the Russian president now," Scholz said.

He noted that the European Union (EU) should share its position with Russia. According to him, this is an "important step." Scholz added that Putin's position remains unchanged.

Earlier, on November 17, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he supported the start of talks with Putin and called for a dialogue with Russia on Ukraine.

Prior to that, on November 15, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held telephone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin said that the conversation took place at the initiative of the German side. During the talks, there was an exchange of views on the Ukrainian conflict.

Later, the official representative of the Kremlin Dmitry Peskov called the fact of dialog between Putin and Scholz positive.

Before that, on November 13, The Washington Post newspaper, citing European officials, reported that the EU was preparing for talks between Russia and Ukraine. It is specified that they may include discussion of territorial concessions on the rhetoric of "land in exchange for Kiev's security".

In June, Putin held a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry and named the conditions for negotiations on Ukraine. The president pointed out that the Ukrainian Armed Forces should be completely withdrawn from all territories of the DNR, LNR, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions. In addition, Kiev should give up the idea of joining NATO.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.