According to a government spokesman, Scholz last spoke to Putin on the phone at the end of May.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin, Moscow After several months, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin again for the first time. In the 90-minute conversation on Tuesday, Scholz insisted that a diplomatic solution to the Russian war in Ukraine be found as soon as possible, based on a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country Ukraine is based, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
“The Federal Chancellor emphasized that any further Russian annexation steps would not go unanswered and would under no circumstances be recognised,” Hebestreit continued.
The Kremlin’s statement about the phone call did not indicate that Putin would give in. The president drew the chancellor’s attention to the “outrageous violations” by the Ukrainians of international humanitarian law, it said. The Ukrainian army is shelling cities in the Donbass and killing civilians there.
>> Read here: Bulwark against Putin – Ukraine has this new security concept in mind
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In the dispute over gas supplies, Putin emphasized that Russia is a reliable supplier. However, Western sanctions prevented proper maintenance of the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 1. Berlin considers this reason for the delivery stop via the pipeline, which has already been put forward several times, to be advanced.
According to a government spokesman, Scholz last spoke to Putin on the phone at the end of May. At that time, Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke together with the Russian President.
The Russian head of state and the chancellor during their personal meeting in February.
(Photo: via REUTERS)
Since the phone call in May there have been further dramatic developments in the war zone. According to the federal government, the conversation on Tuesday also dealt with the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. Scholz emphasized the need to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant occupied by Russian forces.
Hebestreit announced that he had also called for any escalation steps to be avoided and for the measures recommended in the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency to be implemented immediately. Putin said that the Ukrainians are responsible for the danger of a nuclear accident because of their constant shelling of the nuclear power plant.
According to Hebestreit, the global food situation, which is particularly tense as a result of the Russian war of aggression, was also a topic. Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Since then, the country has been defending itself against the attackers, also with support from the West. In the past few days, Ukrainian troops have managed to regain large areas.
More: Follow all developments in the Ukraine war in our news blog