Scholz reveals what he learned about Putin in their conversation

Deutsche Welle reported the information.

According to Scholz, the conversation was meaningful, but did not lead to a change in Putin's views.

“The conversation was very detailed, but it contributed to the realization that the Russian president's views on this war have not changed. And that's bad news,” Scholz said before departing for the Group of 20 (G20) leaders' meeting in Brazil.

Read also: Phone calls won't stop Putin — Polish PM on Scholz's call to Putin

Scholz also responded to criticism of his call to Putin from the German opposition and some international partners, including Ukraine. 

Read also: “Putin's reply to calls”: Ukraine's President and FM respond to massive Russian attack

He emphasized that he had made it clear to Putin about the unwavering support of Germany and its allies for Ukraine, stressing that no decisions on Ukraine would be made without its participation.

Background

On Friday, November 15, Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin had their first telephone conversation in two years. During the conversation, Scholz condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine and called on Putin to stop the hostilities and withdraw his troops.

The previous telephone conversation between the leaders took place on December 2, 2022.

During the conversation, Putin stated that Russia was ready to resume political negotiations, which, in his opinion, had been interrupted by the “Kyiv regime.” He emphasized that any possible agreements should take into account Russia's security interests and new territorial realities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Olaf Scholz's call to Vladimir Putin, stating that it is crucial for Putin to weaken Russia's isolation, which is why he is willing to engage in any negotiations. However, Zelenskyy emphasized that no negotiations have yielded results for decades, and they will not now.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson supported Volodymyr Zelenskyy's position that the conversation between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin was “a Pandora's Box.”

The conversation between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin was agreed upon by the leaders of the United States, Britain, and France during U.S. President Joe Biden's trip to Berlin on October 18.