Putin and Scholz have a "hard" phone call - Chancellor has three demands

Created: 03/19/2022, 04:51

By: Tim Vincent Dicke

It is another diplomatic attempt in the Ukraine war: Olaf Scholz is on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Chancellor has demands.

Berlin/Moscow – Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD) phoned Russia's President Vladimir Putin* on Friday (03/18/2022).

The reason was the Ukraine war, which is now in its fourth week.

In the conversation, the German head of government called, among other things, for a ceasefire that should come into effect quickly.

In the almost hour-long conversation, Scholz "urged that there be a ceasefire, an improvement in the humanitarian situation and progress in the search for a diplomatic solution to the conflict as soon as possible," said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

Putin on the phone with Scholz: the other side is committing crimes in the Ukraine war

According to the Kremlin, Putin accused Ukraine* of delaying the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

"It was established that the Kiev regime is trying in every possible way to delay the negotiation process by making new unrealistic proposals," the Kremlin said after the call.

"Nevertheless, the Russian side is ready to continue to seek solutions in line with their known principled approaches."

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone.

(Archive photo) © Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Russia* is interested in a solution – under the conditions mentioned so far.

For example, Ukraine is to declare its neutrality as a country in the future and recognize the breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine as independent and recognize the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, as part of Russia.

From Moscow's point of view, Crimea became part of Russia exactly eight years ago, on March 18, 2014.

According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin also complained about war crimes by the Ukrainian army.

The shelling of residential areas in the cities of Donetsk and Makiivka resulted in numerous fatalities.

"These war crimes were ignored in the West," it said.

Ukraine war: Talk between Scholz and Putin according to the Kremlin "hard"

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the phone conversations between Putin and Scholz as "tough," but added that such contacts are still necessary.

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However, it is still too early to talk about an agreement in the Ukraine conflict* that the Russian and Ukrainian negotiators could sign.

"I can only say that the Russian delegation is showing willingness to work much faster than before," said Peskov.

However, the Ukrainian delegation was not prepared to “accelerate the pace of the talks”.

Vladimir Putin will also call French President Emmanuel Macron at around 5 p.m. (CET) on Friday, Peskov announced.

(tvd with dpa/AFP)