During the phone call, Olaf Scholz urged the Russian leader to start negotiations with Kiev to pave the way for a “just and lasting peace ,” a German government spokesman said. This is the first time the Russian and German leaders have spoken directly since December 2022.
Reacting to the phone call, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the move had opened a "Pandora's box" that undermined efforts to isolate Russia and end the conflict in Ukraine with a "just peace".
Ukrainian President and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. (Photo: Reuters)
" In my opinion, Mr. Olaf's appeal is a Pandora's box. Now there can be other conversations, other appeals. This is exactly what Mr. Putin has long wanted: it is extremely important for him to weaken his isolation and conduct normal negotiations that will not lead to any results, " Mr. Zelensky said.
Kiev has stressed that Moscow is not ready to negotiate an end to the conflict in good faith and that Ukraine needs strong security guarantees before any ceasefire in the fighting to deter future Russian attacks.
Berlin is a major financial backer of Kiev and its second-largest arms supplier after the United States. However, Donald Trump’s recent victory in the US presidential election has created uncertainty about the future of US support for Ukraine in the conflict. Trump has vowed to quickly end the war in Ukraine, but has not said how, raising concerns in Europe that the US could cut off vital aid to Kiev.
Also in an hour-long phone call with Mr. Putin, Mr. Scholz asked Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and reaffirmed Berlin's continued support for Ukraine.
According to the Kremlin, the Russian President affirmed that any agreement to end the conflict must take into account Russia's security interests and reflect "new territorial realities".
In addition, Mr. Putin stressed that Ukraine must abandon its ambitions to join the NATO military alliance and must also withdraw its troops from four regions controlled by Russian forces. The Kremlin described the atmosphere of the call as "extremely positive."
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ong-zelensky-chi-trich-cuoc-goi-giua-thu-tuong-duc-va-ong-putin-ar907755.html
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