Germany’s Scholz speaks to Putin for first time in 2 years

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in nearly two years, as western powers position for the return of a Trump administration that has made ending the Ukraine war a priority.

Scholz’s spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said that in a phone call on Friday the German leader “condemned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and called on President Putin to end it and withdraw his troops”.

He added that the chancellor also stressed Germany’s “steadfast determination” to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression “as long as is necessary”.

The call took place at a critical time for Ukraine. Russian troops have intensified their attacks in recent months and are advancing at a faster rate than at any point since 2022.

Trump’s victory in last week’s US presidential election has also raised doubts about future US aid to Kyiv. The president-elect promised before the November 5 poll that he would broker a “fair and rapid deal” to end the war.

A recent book by veteran reporter Bob Woodward added that Trump had as many as seven conversations with Vladimir Putin after his previous term ended in 2021.

Berlin said Scholz telephoned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before Friday’s call and would do so again after it.

This is a developing story