The conversation between Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin opened a “Pandora’s box”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The German chancellor and the Russian leader spoke on the phone about the war in Ukraine, according to The Guardian.
Scholz urged his Russian counterpart to withdraw troops from Ukraine and negotiate with Kiev to achieve a “just and lasting peace” in the first talks between a major Western leader and Putin since December 2022.
The hour-long phone call came after Putin reportedly spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump, whose incoming administration has vowed to press for a quick end to the war in Ukraine.
“This is exactly what Putin has wanted for a long time”
German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Scholz underlined Germany’s unwavering determination to support Ukraine in Russia’s “war of aggression” for as long as possible.
Zelenski said Scholz’s call with Putin opened a “Pandora’s box”, undermining efforts to isolate the Russian leader.
“Now there can be other conversations, other calls. (…) And this is exactly what Putin has wanted for a long time: it is extremely important for him to loosen his isolation,” said Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president has tried to court Trump in recent days, telling a radio station that Russia’s war against his country will “end faster” under the new administration.
“The war will end, but there is no exact date. Of course, with the politics of this team, which will now run the White House, the war will end faster,” he said on Friday. Zelenskiy stressed that “fair peace” is vital for Ukraine.
Source: www.descopera.ro
