Chancellor Scholz has had his first phone call with Putin since mid-September. As expected, the conversation does not bring a breakthrough, but some nuances are interesting. This is how Putin justifies the rocket attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure.
In a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the recent Russian airstrikes against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and urged a diplomatic solution. According to government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit during the talks with Putin, Scholz emphasized "Germany's determination" to support Ukraine in ensuring its ability to defend itself against Russian aggression.
Putin called the Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure "necessary and inevitable," the Kremlin said. "It was underlined that the Russian armed forces have long avoided high-precision missile attacks against certain targets in Ukraine, but in view of the provocative attacks in Kyiv, such measures have become necessary and inevitable," the Russian statement said. Putin may have been referring to the rocket attacks on the Crimean bridge across the Kerch Strait. Accordingly, he also denounced the West's military support for Ukraine as "destructive". It was Putin's first phone call to Scholz since mid-September.
"The Chancellor urged the Russian President that a diplomatic solution, including a withdrawal of Russian troops, had to be found as soon as possible," said government spokesman Hebestreit.
Both had also spoken about the global food situation, which was particularly tense as a result of the Russian war of aggression. Scholz and Putin emphasized "the important role of the recently extended grain agreement under the auspices of the United Nations," Hebestreit explained. According to Hebestreit, Scholz and Putin have agreed to stay in touch.
