Scholz Indicates Willingness for Dialogue with Putin
The German chancellor has indicated that he is “actively pursuing” the possibility of dialogue with the Russian leader. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has indicated that he intends to have a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “in the near future,” contingent upon reaching a consensus with “partners.”
Scholz previously conveyed his desire to engage with the Russian leader with the aim of negotiating an end to the conflict in Ukraine, which intensified in 2022.
Last month, he reiterated his openness to speaking with Putin “when the time is right,” emphasizing that such discussions would never occur “over the heads of Ukraine and never without deliberation with our closest partners.”
However, Moscow has rejected the notion of talks with Berlin, asserting that the two leaders have “no common issues” to engage in.
In an interview with German television channel ARD, Scholz was questioned about his ongoing consideration of dialogue with Putin and the timing of “the right time” for such conversations.
“Yes, I am going to talk to the Russian president in due course. But I will not do it unilaterally. It involves many contacts and negotiations with many people, which I have been actively pursuing for a long time,” the chancellor stated, indicating that a conversation is likely to occur soon.
Since their last discussion in December 2022, where they addressed the reasons behind Russia’s military actions, Scholz has advocated for a conference aimed at finding a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing fighting. He has reportedly intended to invite Moscow to the next “peace summit.” The previous Swiss-hosted event last summer centered on Ukrainian President Zelensky’s ‘peace formula’—a ten-point proposal that Moscow has called delusional. Russia was not invited to that meeting, which did not achieve any tangible outcomes.
The chancellor maintained that “nothing about Ukraine” could be negotiated “without Ukraine.”
Germany has consistently supported Kyiv, contributing billions of euros in military assistance since January 2022, with its support being second only to that of the US. Nevertheless, plans are in place for Germany to nearly halve its military aid to Ukraine next year, from around €8 billion to €4 billion, according to a draft budget the government has approved.
Moscow has claimed that relations between the two nations have dwindled to “virtually zero,” asserting its interest solely in peace talks with “the country that is actually directing the entire process.”
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Scholz previously conveyed his desire to engage with the Russian leader with the aim of negotiating an end to the conflict in Ukraine, which intensified in 2022.
Last month, he reiterated his openness to speaking with Putin “when the time is right,” emphasizing that such discussions would never occur “over the heads of Ukraine and never without deliberation with our closest partners.”
However, Moscow has rejected the notion of talks with Berlin, asserting that the two leaders have “no common issues” to engage in.
In an interview with German television channel ARD, Scholz was questioned about his ongoing consideration of dialogue with Putin and the timing of “the right time” for such conversations.
“Yes, I am going to talk to the Russian president in due course. But I will not do it unilaterally. It involves many contacts and negotiations with many people, which I have been actively pursuing for a long time,” the chancellor stated, indicating that a conversation is likely to occur soon.
Since their last discussion in December 2022, where they addressed the reasons behind Russia’s military actions, Scholz has advocated for a conference aimed at finding a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing fighting. He has reportedly intended to invite Moscow to the next “peace summit.” The previous Swiss-hosted event last summer centered on Ukrainian President Zelensky’s ‘peace formula’—a ten-point proposal that Moscow has called delusional. Russia was not invited to that meeting, which did not achieve any tangible outcomes.
The chancellor maintained that “nothing about Ukraine” could be negotiated “without Ukraine.”
Germany has consistently supported Kyiv, contributing billions of euros in military assistance since January 2022, with its support being second only to that of the US. Nevertheless, plans are in place for Germany to nearly halve its military aid to Ukraine next year, from around €8 billion to €4 billion, according to a draft budget the government has approved.
Moscow has claimed that relations between the two nations have dwindled to “virtually zero,” asserting its interest solely in peace talks with “the country that is actually directing the entire process.”
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
