German Chancellor wanted to speak to Vladimir Putin for the first time in two years. Zelensky didn’t like it – he says this conversation only “helps Putin” by reducing his “isolation” from the rest of the world
Russia will only consider a peace proposal for Ukraine that takes into account “new territorial realities”, demanding that Kiev give up the regions occupied by Moscow since the February 2022 invasion.
The warning was made this Friday by Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, in a telephone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the first between the two leaders in the last two years.
“Potential agreements must take into account the security interests of the Russian Federation, be based on new territorial realities and, above all, address the root causes of the conflict,” according to a Kremlin statement summarizing Vladimir’s remarks. Putin during the telephone conversation, which, according to the Kremlin, was made at Berlin’s request.
Olaf Scholz, in turn, urged Vladimir Putin to “show a willingness to start talks with Ukraine in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
According to a statement from the German Chancellor’s office, cited by Reuters, Olaf Scholz also reiterated Germany’s “unwavering determination to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression for as long as necessary”.
The German Chancellor now plans to inform Zelensky, as well as Ukraine’s allies in the West, about the results of this conversation.
Zelensky immediately opposed this telephone call. In a post on the social network X, the Ukrainian president reveals that he was informed of the call by the German chancellor himself before he spoke to Putin. “This call, in my opinion, opens a Pandora’s box,” wrote Zelensky, minutes after the release of the statements from the Kremlin and the German government.
“It opens the way for other conversations and telephone calls. They are just words. And that is precisely what Putin wants”, criticizes the Ukrainian president, adding that “there will not be a Minsk-3”. “We need true peace,” he appealed.
Chancellor Scholz told me that he planned to call Putin. His call, in my opinion, opens Pandora’s Box. There may now be other conversations and phone calls. Just a lot of words.
And this is exactly what Putin has long sought. It is critical for him to weaken his isolation, as…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa)
It is not known for sure why Olaf Scholz wanted to speak to Vladimir Putin now, but the truth is that the conversation took place at a time when Ukraine is facing several setbacks on the battlefield and concerns are growing among allies. Westerners about Donald Trump’s plans to end the conflict “in 24 hours”, as he promised.
