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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the primary time in almost two years, as western powers place for the return of a Trump administration that has made ending the Ukraine warfare a precedence.
Scholz’s spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit mentioned that in a telephone name on Friday the German chief “condemned the Russian warfare of aggression towards Ukraine and known as on President Putin to finish it and withdraw his troops”.
He added that the chancellor additionally careworn Germany’s “steadfast willpower” to assist Ukraine in its combat towards Russian aggression “so long as is important”.
The name befell at a essential time for Ukraine. Russian troops have intensified their assaults in current months and are advancing at a quicker price than at any level since 2022.
Trump’s victory in final week’s US presidential election has additionally raised doubts about future US assist to Kyiv. The president-elect promised earlier than the November 5 ballot that he would dealer a “truthful and fast deal” to finish the warfare.
A current guide by veteran reporter Bob Woodward added that Trump had as many as seven conversations with Vladimir Putin after his earlier time period resulted in 2021.
Berlin mentioned Scholz telephoned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier than Friday’s name and would accomplish that once more after it.
This can be a growing story
