Ukraine crisis stems from NATO's long-standing policies, Putin tells Scholz

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held on Friday their first phone conversation since December 2022, and discussed prospects for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Friday.

Initiated by the German side, the discussion included "a detailed and candid exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine," according to the statement.

President Putin emphasized that the ongoing crisis stems from NATO's long-standing policies, which he described as "aggressive" and aimed at establishing an anti-Russian foothold in Ukraine, disregarding Russia's security concerns and the rights of Russian-speaking populations.

Regarding potential political and diplomatic solutions, Putin reiterated Russia's openness to resuming negotiations, which he said were halted by Ukraine.

He said any agreements must reflect Russia's security interests, acknowledge "new territorial realities," and address the root causes of the conflict, reminding that these proposals were outlined in his June address to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The leaders also discussed the state of Russian-German relations, with Putin describing them as severely degraded due to what he termed Germany's "unfriendly policies."

He underscored Russia's consistent fulfillment of its contractual obligations in the energy sector and expressed readiness for mutually beneficial cooperation, provided Germany demonstrated interest.

The conversation also touched on the escalating crisis in the Middle East. Putin briefed Scholz on Russia's efforts to promote de-escalation and peaceful resolution in the region.

It was agreed that aides to both leaders would maintain contact to follow up on the discussion via aides.