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Canadian PM on Putin-Scholz talks: Ending Ukraine crisis requires `a level of engagement’

Ottawa is continuing to engage closely with Kiev, Justin Trudeau added

LIMA /Peru/, November 17. /TASS/. Putting an end to the Ukraine conflict requires certain engagement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, commenting on a recent phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"I think we all understand how important it is to see an end to the violence in Ukraine, to see an end to conflicts around the world, and that requires a level of engagement with counterparts who in many cases we disagree with," the Canadian premier told reporters on the sidelines of the 31st summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which has just wrapped up in Lima.

When asked whether he himself would call the Russian leader, Trudeau said that the level of trust that he had with Putin was "probably at an all-time low right now."

Ottawa is continuing to engage closely with Kiev, he added.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Putin-Scholz conversation on Friday was held at the German initiative and lasted one hour. Prior to that, the two leaders talked over the phone on December 2, 2022, and they last met before the commencement of the special military operation. According to the Kremlin, Putin and Scholz discussed the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East crisis and bilateral relations between Moscow and Berlin. The Russian president and the German chancellor agreed that their aides would maintain communication.

Earlier, addressing a plenary meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin said he was ready to resume dialogue with Western leaders if any of them seeks communication.

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