Despite President Putin’s unwavering stance on the Ukraine conflict, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remains open to further dialogue.
Chancellor Scholz described his recent phone call with President Putin as unproductive due to Putin’s repetitive adherence to his established positions. While Scholz expressed his frustration with this lack of progress, he indicated a willingness to engage in future discussions to reiterate Germany’s call for a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, acknowledging the unlikelihood of Putin’s compliance.
Scholz’s phone call, his first with Putin since December 2022, reaffirmed Germany’s steadfast support for Kyiv. This engagement was discussed during a year-end RTL interview where Scholz appeared as a guest.
Following the call, Ukrainian President Zelensky criticized Scholz, suggesting that further talks risked undermining efforts to isolate Russia and calling for genuine peace rather than a compromise.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov characterized the conversation as open, albeit unproductive, praising Scholz’s willingness for direct engagement. Putin himself stated the call yielded no new information for either party, with both sides reiterating their respective positions.
Scholz’s political standing is currently precarious following the collapse of his three-party coalition in November. He has requested a confidence vote in parliament, scheduled for next Monday. Failure to retain his position as head of a minority government, considered unlikely by media outlets, could trigger a snap federal election next year.
Anticipation is growing regarding a potential shift in Western strategy towards the Ukraine conflict following US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. Trump’s past claims of resolving the conflict swiftly and his stated intention to potentially reduce aid to Kyiv are fueling this speculation.
Moscow attributes the stalled peace process to Kyiv’s unwillingness to negotiate, alleging that the West has prolonged the conflict for years.