Putin named Ukraine as the main topic of his conversation with Scholz

Russian President Vladimir Putin told a news conference in Astana on November 28 that his recent telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was mainly devoted to Ukraine.

"As for the conversation with the chancellor, it lasted quite a long time. It was mainly about the events in Ukraine. But there was nothing unusual here, I think, neither for him nor for me. He presented his position, I presented mine. <...> And we remained at our opinions on this issue," Putin said.

He added that several questions in the conversation touched on bilateral relations, but in passing. Putin considers dialog with the German leadership possible in the future.

In addition, according to the head of state, Russia continues to be in contact with many countries with which relations are currently uneasy. Putin pointed out that he has not had direct contacts with the leaders of these countries for a long time, but some of them do show a desire to resume contacts and discuss current issues related to bilateral relations, the conflict in Ukraine and pan-European problems.

Putin noted that Scholz was the first to break the silence of Western leaders. He added that signals that the chancellor wanted to talk had been coming to the Kremlin for quite some time. The president emphasized that he is always open to such contacts and will never refuse them in the future.

Negotiating regression: Germany rules out resumption of high-level contacts with Russia

Are new discussions on the Ukrainian crisis between Vladimir Putin and Olaf Scholz possible?

The first telephone talks between Putin and Scholz since December 2, 2022 took place on November 15. The Kremlin said at the time that the conversation took place at the initiative of the German side. Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the fact of dialog between Putin and Scholz positive.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on November 17 that he supported the start of talks with Putin. The head of the German Defense Ministry called for contacts between Berlin and Moscow on the Ukrainian conflict.

Scholz, for his part, on November 18 indicated that his talks with the Russian leader are an important step to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The chancellor pointed out that it was necessary to both talk and act, and the European Union (EU) countries should convey their position to the Russian Federation.

In June, Putin held a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry and named the conditions for negotiations on Ukraine. The president said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces should be completely withdrawn from all the 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.