Scholz defends Putin call amid backlash, reassures Ukraine
Olaf Scholz responds to critical evaluations following his phone call with Vladimir Putin. He declares that no decisions regarding Ukraine will be made without Kyiv's involvement.
"Ukraine can count on us" is the principle that prevails and "no decision will be taken behind Ukraine’s back," said Scholz on Sunday in Berlin just before departing for the G20 summit in Brazil, as quoted by AFP.
Scholz stated that it was worthwhile to talk to Putin to dispel his illusions that the West intends to withdraw support for Ukraine, wrote Reuters.
Scholz provides details of the conversation with Putin
He added, in reference to the possible return of Donald Trump to the office of the President of the USA, that it would also not be good if Washington were in regular contact with Putin while no European leader was.
- The conversation was very detailed but contributed to a recognition that little has changed in the Russian President's views of the war - and that's not good news, said Scholz.
Since the conversation with the dictator, the German Chancellor has faced heavy criticism.
The internal opposition and the German press were also critical. Leading opposition CDU politician Jürgen Hardt stated that Putin "understands the fact that Scholz called him as a sign of weakness rather than strength." Meanwhile, Zelensky described the phone call to Putin as opening "Pandora's box."
