Ukraine’s latest war: Zelensky says Putin got what he wanted after rare conversation with German leader

Analysis: the conversation between Scholz and Putin is fascinating for its time and may have several motivations

They have not spoken for almost two years, so today’s conversation between the Chancellor of Germany and Vladimir Putin is fascinating in its time.

Shortly after the pair hung up, lines from the German camp were quick to point out that Olaf Scholz had condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and called on Putin to withdraw troops and end hostilities.

“The Federal Chancellor emphasized Russia’s readiness to negotiate with Ukraine in order to achieve a just and lasting peace and emphasized Germany’s unwavering determination to support Ukraine in the peace process,” a government spokesman said in a statement confirming the conversation.

The conversation between the two leaders lasted about an hour, with Scholz also condemning Russian airstrikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and saying that the deployment of North Korean soldiers to fight against Ukraine would lead to a serious escalation of the conflict.

Strong words are not surprising.

Formerly one of Russia’s key economic partners, relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply after the outbreak of war in 2022.

Germany is now one of the main supporters of Ukraine in terms of aid and weapons.

But this is probably not the only motivation for a frank conversation.

Scholz’s government has collapsed, a general election is expected in February and, if the polls prove correct, he is likely to lose his chancellorship.

Heating up the political battle, he described himself as a safe choice for voters in a speech this week, suggesting that his stable leadership had helped avoid an escalation of war in Europe.

And what better way to emphasize that he is the best to communicate with the Russian president than to have a timely conversation with him.

Trump 2.0 increases the pressure

But next year’s vote is not the only clock ticking before the chancellor.

The return of Donald Trump to the White House also increases the pressure.

The president-elect has claimed he will quickly end the war, which many in Europe fear could lead to a bad deal for Ukraine.

On Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Poland, Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy will meet to discuss the war in Ukraine, Trump’s election and the political future of Europe.

With so much uncertainty surrounding America’s commitments to NATO and Ukraine in January, it would be wise for the chancellor of Europe’s biggest economy to call Moscow and make sure he takes center stage in talks with Russia.

Today Scholz is said to have reaffirmed his unwavering support for Kyiv, warning Putin that he cannot “count on time to be on his side” and urging him to start serious negotiations.

The Kremlin also released its own version of the chat, blaming the crisis on what it called NATO’s long-standing “aggressive policy” that it says ignores Moscow’s security and the rights of Russian-speaking residents.

Russia also did not miss the opportunity to hit Germany, blaming the deterioration of their relations on the “unfriendly course of the German authorities.”

However, there was no mention of the allegations of sabotage, cyberattacks and espionage that the aforementioned “unfriendly” German officials accuse Moscow of carrying out.

At the end of the conversation, the leaders agreed to keep in touch.

We are informed that Scholz also communicated with Volodymyr Zelenskyi before and after the conversation.

According to a Reuters report citing a source in the president’s office, Zelenskyy was not happy but said the call would help the Russian leader by reducing his isolation and ultimately prolonging the war in Ukraine.

The concern is understandable.

Russia is strengthening its position on the battlefield, and Kyiv’s success depends on continued support from the US and Germany; both countries whose leadership is currently changing.