German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is preparing for his first phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in almost two years, according to reports from the German weekly Die Zeit. The call, though not officially scheduled yet, is being considered ahead of the G20 summit in Brazil this November.
During their last conversation in December 2022, Scholz urged Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine and seek a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict. The potential upcoming call comes at a time when Ukraine is facing increasing pressure from the West to negotiate with Russia as Ukrainian forces struggle to push back Russian advances in the country.
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the United States did not result in the expected support in terms of permission to use U.S.-supplied weapons or enhanced security guarantees from Western allies.
The situation remains tense as both sides pursue their objectives, and the outcome of the upcoming conversation between Scholz and Putin could have significant implications for the conflict in Ukraine.