Putin, Scholz discuss Ukrainian crisis over telephone

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in their first telephone conversation since December 2022, the Kremlin reported Friday.

The two leaders exchanged their views on the current situation in Ukraine, with the Russian president noting that the crisis was "a direct result of NATO's long-standing aggressive policies" aiming at creating an "anti-Russian bridgehead" on Ukrainian territory while ignoring Russia's security interests.

Putin further said that Russia has always remained open to resuming negotiations, which were essentially halted by the Ukrainian government. He reiterated that Moscow's proposals for potential peace talks were outlined during a speech held in June at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Any potential agreement must address Russia's security interests, reflect the new territorial realities, and resolve the root causes of the conflict, the Kremlin reported citing the Russian leader.

Putin further noted the "unprecedented degradation" of relations between Russia and Germany due to the unfriendly policies of the German authorities. He stressed that Russia has always met its commitments in the energy sector and is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation if Germany expresses interest.

The two leaders also talked about the situation in the Middle East and Russia's de-escalation efforts, according to the Kremlin.

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