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Scholz urges Putin to withdraw troops for 'diplomatic' end to war
"The chancellor urged the Russian president to come as quickly as possible to a diplomatic solution including the withdrawal of Russian troops," according to the German leader's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (center) listens to Polish President Andrzej Duda (left) during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron (right), on February 8, 2022 in Berlin. Polish President Andrzej Duda said Tuesday he was confident war could still be averted by easing tensions with Russia over Ukraine, at a Berlin meeting with the leaders of Germany and France. (AFP/Thibault Camus)
G
erman Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday pressed Russia's President Vladimir Putin to seek a diplomatic solution to end his war in Ukraine, including troop withdrawals, Berlin said following a call between the two.
"The chancellor urged the Russian president to come as quickly as possible to a diplomatic solution including the withdrawal of Russian troops," according to the German leader's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
During the one-hour call, Scholz "condemned in particular the Russian airstrikes against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and stressed Germany's determination to support Ukraine in ensuring the defence capability against Russian aggression".
The leaders also discussed the issue of global food security, which is under pressure because of the war.
They also agreed to "remain in contact", said Hebestreit.
Scholz and Putin have been in regular phone contact through the war.
The previous call between them took place in September and lasted 90 minutes, with Scholz then also urging Putin to "come to a diplomatic solution as possible, based on a ceasefire".
On Friday, the Kremlin said Putin is open to talks on a possible settlement to the conflict in Ukraine and believes in a diplomatic solution, after Joe Biden suggested he was prepared to speak to the Russian leader.
Biden, speaking beside French President Emmanuel Macron, said the only way to end the war in Ukraine was for Putin to pull troops out and that if Putin was looking to end the conflict then Biden would be prepared to speak to him.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov struck a dovish tone when asked about Biden's remarks, saying that Putin remained open to negotiations but that Russia would not pull out of Ukraine.
"The president of the Russian Federation has always been, is and remains open to negotiations in order to ensure our interests," Peskov told reporters.
