Vladimir Putin and Olaf Scholz held a telephone conversation for the first time in two years

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the first time in two years, it is reported TASSannouncing the Kremlin press office,

“At the initiative of the German side, the first telephone conversation between the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, took place from December 2022,” the news says.

“There was a detailed and open discussion about the situation in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin recalled that the current crisis is a direct result of NATO’s long-term aggressive policy aimed at creating a bridgehead against Russia on the territory of​​​​​​Ukraine, and at the once avoided. interests of our country in the field of security and destruction of the rights of Russian residents,” the Kremlin said.

“Possible agreements must take into account the interests of the Russian Federation in the field of security, be based on the new territorial realities and, most importantly, eliminate the root causes of the conflict.”

The Russian head of state confirmed that Moscow has never given up on a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict and is open to negotiations based on the proposals expressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June this year.

“Regarding the prospects for a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, the Russian president noted that the Russian side has never refused and is still open to the resumption of talks put forward by the government stop it in Kiev.”

For his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to start talks with Ukraine, which would open the way to “just and lasting peace”, reports Reuters.

During the phone call, Scholz called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and reaffirmed Germany’s continued support for Ukraine, a German government spokesman said.

“The Chancellor asked Russia to be ready to start negotiations with Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace.

“He emphasized Germany’s determination to support Ukraine as a defense against Russian aggression as long as necessary,” the spokesman said.

Chancellor Scholz spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before his conversation with Putin, and then he will brief the Ukrainian leader on the results.

Radoslav Velkov