Will the German elections weaken European unity in favor of Ukraine, when it is already shaken by the return of Donald Trump to the White House?
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Friday, November 15, that he had spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is the first formal exchange in two years, not only between the chancellor and the Russian president, but also between a Western leader and the head of the Kremlin. The conversation takes place a few days after the contact established between Putin and the next American president, while kyiv is on the defensive against the advance of Russian troops, at the dawn of a third winter of war.
This approach was immediately and harshly criticized by Ukraine, because it opens a gap in the front deployed by the West in support of kyiv, at a time when Joe Biden is preparing, on January 20, 2025, to hand over power to the winner of the elections. elections. American presidential elections. Also at a time when the Social Democratic Chancellor (SPD) enters the electoral campaign, with a view to the early elections on February 23, after the breakdown of his coalition.
During this exchange, Olaf Scholz “condemned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine,” indicated the Foreign Ministry, as well as the use of North Korean troops, and asked Russia to demonstrate that “Ready for serious negotiations with Ukraine with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace.”
Informed in advance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not hide his irritation and accused Olaf Scholz of having “It opened Pandora’s box” with this “attempt at appeasement” towards Moscow, a clear allusion to the language used by the European allies in the 1930s in the face of the threat from Nazi Germany. “This is exactly what Putin has wanted for a long time. criticized Zelensky on Telegram. It is extremely important for him to weaken his isolation, Russia’s isolation, and conduct ordinary negotiations that will lead to nothing. »
A critical moment for Ukraine
“We want to warn you: there will be no “Minsk-3”. “We need real peace”added the Ukrainian president, in reference to a possible agreement – based on the model of the one negotiated in 2015 under the auspices of France and Germany – that would allow the conflict to be frozen. “Talks with the Russian dictator alone do not provide added value to achieve a just peace”For his part, he was outraged by the spokesman for Ukrainian diplomacy, Heorhii Tykhyi.
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