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German chancellor calls for peace talks with Ukraine in phone call with Putin

Olaf Scholz also highlighted "Germany’s unwavering determination" to support Kiev "for as long as it takes”

BERLIN, November 15. /TASS/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in nearly two years, German Government Spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit told reporters.

"The chancellor insisted that Russia should demonstrate willingness to hold talks with Ukraine in order to achieve a just and lasting peace," he pointed out.

Scholz also highlighted "Germany’s unwavering determination" to support Kiev "for as long as it takes." He called on Putin to end the conflict and "withdraw troops."

Hebestreit added that prior to the conversation with Putin, Scholz had held a phone call with Vladimir Zelensky "and will also do it after the conversation with the Russian president."

Scholz himself wrote on the X social media platform that he had urged the Russian president to end military operations and "withdraw troops." "Russia should show readiness for talks with Ukraine," the German chancellor added.

Scholz is the first major Western leader to call Putin in nearly two years. The two last held a telephone conversation in December 2022. Their last in-person meeting took place in Moscow on February 15, 2022.

Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper wrote on October 1, citing government sources, that Scholz planned to contact Putin ahead of the G20 summit set to take place in Brazil on November 18-19. Kremlin Spokesman Dmieetry Peskov said on October 2 that Putin had always remained open to dialogue.

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