Ushakov reported intermittent contact with Scholz's assistant

During a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the parties did not agree on further contacts, but agreed to continue communication through aides. Presidential aide Yury Ushakov said this on November 26, answering Izvestia's question.

"The leaders did not agree on further contacts, but it was agreed that I and my colleague would communicate by phone if necessary, which, in fact, we periodically do," he said.

Thetalks between the German Chancellor and the Russian leader took place on November 15. Before that, Putin and Scholz held telephone talks in December 2022. As specified in the Kremlin, during the dialog Putin reminded that the current crisis was a direct result of NATO's long-term aggressive policy aimed at creating an anti-Russian bridgehead on Ukrainian territory.

The Russian president also reminded the chancellor that the Russian side had never given up on negotiations and was still open to resuming the dialog that had been interrupted on the initiative of the Kiev authorities.