Telephone call with Putin: Scholz gives details from the conversation – "I did that"
Created: 09/14/2022, 21:14
By: Fabian Mueller
Talked to each other again after a long radio silence: Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
© Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance/IMAGO/Russian Look (montage)
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in a long time.
Scholz is said to have pushed for a diplomatic end to the war.
Update from September 14, 9:10 p.m .:
The day after his almost 90-minute phone call with Vladimir Putin, Olaf Scholz himself commented on the content of the conversation.
"Unfortunately, I can't tell you that he has now realized that starting this war was a mistake, and there is no indication that new attitudes are now emerging," said Scholz after a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in Berlin.
Nevertheless, it is still right to seek dialogue and to tell Putin "what I think I have to say on these issues." Scholz repeated his view that Russia must withdraw its troops so that there is a chance of peace in the region.
"We have to talk about that, and I did that," said Scholz.
Scholz on the phone with Putin: Chancellor makes three demands - Russia calls completely different points
First report from September 13:
Berlin – After several months, Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time.
In the 90-minute conversation on Tuesday, Scholz insisted that a diplomatic solution to the Russian war in Ukraine be found as soon as possible, based on a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country Ukraine is based, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
The Federal Chancellor also emphasized that any further Russian annexation steps would not go unanswered and would not be recognized under any circumstances.
Scholz also called on the Russian President to treat captured soldiers in accordance with the requirements of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions, and to ensure unhindered access for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Putin and Scholz talk about war in Ukraine: Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and grain agreement
The situation at the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia was also a topic in the hour-and-a-half phone call.
The Federal Chancellor emphasized the need to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant.
The Chancellor also called for any escalation steps to be avoided and for the measures recommended in the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency to be implemented immediately.
The global food situation, which was particularly tense as a result of the Russian war of aggression, was also discussed.
Scholz is said to have emphasized the special role of the United Nations-led grain agreement and appealed to Putin to implement the agreement.
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The Kremlin's statement about the phone call did not indicate that Putin would give in.
The president drew the chancellor's attention to the "outrageous violations" by the Ukrainians of international humanitarian law, it said.
The Ukrainian army is shelling cities in the Donbass and killing civilians there.
In the dispute over gas supplies, Putin emphasized that Russia is a reliable supplier.
However, Western sanctions prevented proper maintenance of the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 1. Berlin considers this reason for the delivery stop via the pipeline, which has already been put forward several times, to be advanced.
Putin and Scholz agreed to stay in touch.
According to a government spokesman, the Chancellor last spoke to Putin on the phone at the end of May.
At that time, Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke together with the Russian President.
(fmü/dpa)
