controversy after a resumption of contact between Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by telephone with Vladimir Putin. This is the first time in two years that a European leader has called the Russian president. “I called on him to end Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and withdraw its troops“, declared Olaf Scholz. The call provoked anger and incomprehension in Ukraine. According to Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia obtained what it wanted: to emerge from its diplomatic isolation. “Olaf Scholz's call, in my opinion, is to open Pandora's box“, he believes.

The call comes a few days after the election of Donald Trump, who during his campaign said he was in favor of reopening negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war. “If several international actors move towards a form of negotiation, it is better to be among the States which will participate (…) rather than watching them from the outside.analyzes Florent Parmentier, secretary general of the Sciences Po political research center, estimating that the German chancellor is trying to take “a form of European leadership“.

Russia, for its part, says it is ready but demands the transfer of occupied Ukrainian territories, conditions deemed unacceptable by kyiv.

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