Vladimir Putin and Germany’s Scholz hold first phone call in nearly two years

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a phone conversation on Friday, according to the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. It was the first time the two leaders have spoken directly since December 2, 2022.

The conversation lasted for about an hour, according to Reuters.

In a statement released after the call, Germany’s government said that Scholz urged Putin to end Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and withdraw Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. The chancellor also reportedly “called on Russia to be ready for negotiations with Ukraine aimed at a just and lasting peace” and emphasized Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine “as long as necessary.”

Scholz reportedly spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the call and planned to speak with him against afterwards.

The Kremlin has not commented on the conversation.