German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is seeking to have a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin after nearly two years of no direct contact, as reported by Die Zeit newspaper. Scholz has been advocating for diplomatic solutions to the Ukraine conflict and has invited Moscow to a peace summit.
Scholz hopes to have the call before the G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro in mid-November. While the conversation has not been requested yet, Scholz has expressed his intention to speak with Putin again. The last phone call between the two leaders was in December 2022, where Putin explained Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, and Scholz urged him to withdraw troops.
Germany, as the second-largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, has provided substantial support. However, the country aims to reduce military aid to Kiev by 50% in its proposed 2025 budget. Additionally, Germany’s economy has been impacted by its decision to cut ties with Russian natural gas.
Despite efforts for peace talks, the Kremlin has stated that the conditions for negotiations are not yet favorable, criticizing the lack of involvement from other key players in the conflict resolution process.