Olaf Scholz: Why I had to speak with Putin

 

BERLIN – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday defended a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that came in for sharp criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“It was important to say as well that he (Putin) should not count on the support for Ukraine of Germany, of Europe and of many others in the world declining,” Scholz said in Berlin before leaving for the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Scholz said that in the call, made on Friday, he had told Putin “that it is now up to him to ensure that the war comes to an end.”

The conversation had been announced well in advance, he said. It had been extensive but had also led to the recognition “that not much has changed with the Russian president regarding his views on this war – which is not good news,” Scholz said.

For that reason it was important “that we are extremely clear on the question of principle, that is to say that Ukraine can rely on us, and that the basic principle applies: there will be no decision taken over the heads of Ukraine,” Scholz said.

He expressed the view that it would not be a good idea if in the immediate future there were talks between the US and Russian presidents, while the head of government of an important European country did not himself conduct talks.

Scholz appeared to be referring to remarks by US President-elect Donald Trump during his campaign that he would bring the war to an end rapidly by means of a deal with Russia.

Scholz took the initiative in phoning Putin on Friday, holding talks with the Russian leader for the first time since December 2022. In the call, he repeated a demand for Russian forces to withdraw and for Moscow to show readiness to hold peace talks.

Zelensky expressed outrage at the phone call. “In my opinion, Olaf’s call opens Pandora’s box,” he said in a video message posted on social media platforms.

“Now there may be other conversations, other calls … and that is exactly what Putin has wanted for a long time. It is crucial for him to weaken his international isolation, Russia’s isolation,” Zelensky said.