Germany’s Scholz discusses Ukraine with Russia’s Putin in first such call in 2 years

Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged Russia to be willing to negotiate with Ukraine in his first call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in nearly two years. The Kremlin responded that Moscow was open to renewed talks so long as Kyiv cedes territory and backs off its hopes to join NATO. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit says Scholz condemned “Russia’s war of aggression” against Ukraine during the call, and called on Putin to end it by withdrawing troops that invaded the country in February 2022. Scholz had spoken beforehand with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and would do so again after the call with Putin.