Scholz calls Putin for the first time in two years to find out about the peace plan that Ukraine already rejected in June

The Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholzand the President of Russia, Vladimir Putinspoke by telephone this Friday for the first time since December 2022. The fundamental issue was the war in Ukraine, the very one that broke the close relations between the two in February of the same year, and the head of Kremlin raised two issues: that the initiative for the call came from Berlin, the opposite of what the Germans say, and that their position is the same as in June. This involves an immediate withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from their own territories in the east and south of the territory, and an explicit renunciation of membership in NATO.

In Kyiv, the answer is always the same. None of these conditions are acceptable, and the situation does not exist for them to agree to sit down at the negotiating table with a Putin who is already using thousands of North Korean troops to advance his imperialist plans. The reaction ofthe Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskywith whom the German spoke two days ago, this was to be expected. He harshly criticized the fact that his ally accepted this call, accusing him of having opened “Pandora’s box”.

“Now there can be other conversations, other calls, a lot of words,” he added. “And this is exactly what Putin has wanted for a long time: it is very important for him to reduce his isolation.”

This Friday, Berlin’s response to Moscow followed the usual line: peace for Ukraine must be “just and lasting”. Scholz once again condemned the Russian war of aggression, which has been causing death, suffering and destruction in Ukraine for almost a thousand days. The German Chancellor notably condemned the air attacks against civilian infrastructure and stressed that the involvement of men of Kim Jong Un On the ground, this is a serious escalation which poses the risk of an extension of the conflict.

The Social Democratic politician, who currently heads a minority government in Germany, said – according to his version – that support for Ukraine was long-term and that time was not on Russia’s side. Of course, Scholz is not having his best moment. He will have neither a budget for 2025 nor a stable government after the collapse of his coalition. The elections will take place on February 23. Some analysts point out that in the event of a shift to the right, which is very likely, the new government will have more initiative in supporting the Ukrainian cause. She could even change her position on the shipment and use of the long-range Taurus missiles that the Ukrainians have been demanding for months.

Perhaps the most important thing is, as the Pole expressed it Donald Tusk After speaking with Scholz, Germany insisted that it would not decide anything regarding Ukraine without Ukraine, which has happened in the past.

What the Kremlin explains, for its part, is that the conversation between the two was “detailed and frank”. He also resorted to the classics: “Putin recalled that the current crisis is a direct result of NATO’s aggressive policy for many years, aimed at creating an anti-Russian platform on Ukrainian territory that ignores the interests of our country in the field of security. . and trampled on the rights of Russian speakers.

The situation on the front is particularly delicate. The Russians are gaining ground in the East, but at a very high cost. Ukraine recruits more troops to contain them, looks with suspicion at the decision it makes Donald Trump when he arrives at the White House in January. The Republican has has been reluctant to continue supplying arms to kyiv during the campaign, but many advisers are trying to influence the president-elect to warn him that letting down his ally would be very costly.