German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Sunday that he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin “soon” to discuss ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In an interview with German broadcaster ARD, Scholz explained, “Yes, I’ve decided to talk to the president of Russia at the right time. But as a responsible politician, I don’t do it alone.” Scholz’s comments come amid growing international pressure to seek a resolution to the conflict, which has devastated Ukraine and strained global relations.
On the same day, Scholz spoke with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, with the German chancellor’s spokesman noting that the two leaders discussed efforts “toward a return to peace in Europe.” Trump, who campaigned on ending the war in Ukraine before taking office in January, reportedly spoke with Putin on Thursday and urged him not to escalate the conflict, according to the Washington Post. The Kremlin, however, denied this report.
Scholz had previously signaled his openness to engaging in direct talks with Putin. Media reports suggested that the conversation between the two leaders could take place before the G20 summit in Brazil, scheduled for November 18-19.
However, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has expressed doubts about the feasibility of such a dialogue, saying that Putin “is no longer even prepared” to speak with Scholz. The two leaders last spoke in December 2022, when Scholz urged Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine.
Germany has been one of Ukraine’s largest military supporters, second only to the United States, providing billions of euros in military aid and humanitarian assistance.
