Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and the Foreign Ministry in Kiev confirmed information that Scholz had informed in advance about the planned conversation with Putin. However, they strongly criticized the phone call. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said talks with the “dictator” Putin would not help efforts to achieve a just peace in Ukraine. Before his conversation with Putin, Scholz also spoke with Zelensky.
Zelenskyj: Call “opens Pandora’s box”
“In my opinion, Olaf’s call opens Pandora’s box,” emphasized Zelensky in his evening video message. This would only enable further discussions. With his call, Scholz fulfilled Putin’s long-held wish to reduce Russia’s isolation and begin talks that led nowhere. Putin had done this for decades, said Zelensky. “That allowed Russia to not change its policy, to do basically nothing, and that just led to this war.”
At the same time, Zelensky reaffirmed that the war should not be frozen with ceasefire agreements, as was the case between 2014 and 2022. “We know what needs to be done and warn: There will be no “Minsk 3”, we need real peace.” He was referring to the peace agreements for eastern Ukraine brokered by Germany and France in 2014 and 2015, which came after the Belarusian one Capital Minsk were named.
Russia’s Foreign Minister: Waiting for Trump’s proposals
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Moscow is now waiting for the proposals announced by US President-elect Donald Trump to end the war. So far, Russia cannot imagine how Trump wants to implement his announcement to end the war within 24 hours. “We regularly emphasize that a politician who says that he is not for war but for peace definitely deserves attention,” Lavrov said.
Like Zelensky, the Kremlin had spoken out against a new freeze on the conflict. The Russian leadership repeatedly emphasizes that a permanent solution must be found.
Zelensky expects a quicker end to the war with Trump
Zelensky told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne that he expects the war to end more quickly after the Trump administration takes office. “That is their approach, their promise to society. And for them that is also very important,” said Zelenskyj in a pre-published excerpt of the interview, which is scheduled to be broadcast in full length this Saturday. Trump spoke to Zelenskyj after his victory in the presidential election on November 5th; according to the Kremlin, there has not yet been a conversation with Putin.
Putin publicly congratulated Trump on his victory in the election and expressed his openness to resuming contact. The Kremlin has also stated several times that Moscow also expects a call from Trump and is open to dialogue about ending the war.
Russia began the war of aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, bringing death and destruction to the neighboring country. In eastern Ukraine, Russian troops currently have the initiative and are reporting the capture of towns every day. The largest country in the world in terms of area now occupies around 20 percent of Ukraine.
The G-20 summit is likely to be the reason for the conversation
Scholz had repeatedly said in recent months that he was ready to talk to Putin. He just wants to find the right time. The date chosen for the phone call is likely to be related to the upcoming G-20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which Scholz is heading to on Sunday.
The G-20 group of leading economic powers from all continents is the only discussion format in which Russia and the NATO states still sit at the same table with high-ranking representatives. Scholz is not planning to talk to Minister Lavrov there, but according to those close to him, he will speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the war in Ukraine, who is considered Putin’s most important ally.
Putin and Zelenskyj not there in Rio
Putin himself canceled his participation in the summit in order not to “disrupt the normal work of the forum,” which has other topics. There is an international arrest warrant for him from the World Criminal Court in The Hague because he is accused of war crimes in Ukraine. Therefore, Putin would risk arrest in Brazil.
Ukraine is not part of the G20. Zelensky was also not invited to Rio as a guest by the Brazilian hosts.
