Scholz persuades Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine

This was announced by the official representative of the German government, Steffen Hebestreit.

"Given the seriousness of the military situation and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, the chancellor called on the Russian president to find a diplomatic solution as soon as possible based on a ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops, and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine," the message reads.

Olaf Scholz emphasized that any further steps taken by Russia to annex Ukrainian territories will not remain unanswered and will not be recognized under any circumstances.     

The German chancellor called on the Russian president to treat the prisoners of war in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, and to ensure unhindered access to them by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Regarding the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Scholz emphasized the need to ensure the safety of the plant. In this context, the Federal Chancellor urged to avoid any steps of escalation and to immediately implement the measures recommended in the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The German chancellor and the Russian president also discussed the world food situation, which has become particularly acute as a result of the Russian war of aggression.  The chancellor emphasized the important role of the grain agreement under the auspices of the UN and urged the Russian president not to discredit the agreement and to continue its full implementation.

The German chancellor and the Russian president agreed to continue the dialogue, Steffen Hebestreit summarizes.