The situation at a glance: Kremlin open to Ukraine talks – criticism of Scholz’s call

After the first phone call between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in almost two years, the Russian government is open to further discussions. The Chancellor’s conversation with Putin – which was sharply criticized by the Ukrainian government – was open and detailed, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in Moscow. “There are pretty deep differences of opinion,” emphasized Peskov. Nevertheless, the resumption of dialogue is a “positive sign”. Russia remains open to talks.

Scholz called Putin on his own initiative on Friday – the first time since December 2022. He again called for a Russian troop withdrawal from Ukraine and a willingness to hold peace negotiations. The Russian president, on the other hand, insisted that the causes of the war in Ukraine that he cited must be eliminated, the new territorial realities recognized and Moscow’s security interests taken into account.

From a Russian perspective, this means that Ukraine should forego NATO membership and also the territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia annexed by Russia, as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. The leadership in Kyiv categorically rejects this.

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: Scholz’s call to Putin “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 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 brokered by Germany and France in 2014 and 2015 for eastern Ukraine, which were named after the Belarusian capital Minsk.

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 that he will 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 it is also very important,” said Zelenskyj in a pre-published excerpt from the interview, which will be broadcast in full 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 also stated several times that Moscow also expected a call from Trump and was 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 G20 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 G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which Scholz is heading to on Sunday.

The G20 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.