**Putin and Scholz Speak After Nearly 2 Years**
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by phone on November 15. This was their first direct call in nearly two years, according to a statement from the German government.
The call was not announced beforehand, but Bloomberg reported earlier that the two leaders were scheduled to speak. The conversation lasted about an hour, Reuters said.
**Germany Supports Ukraine**
During the call, Scholz condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine and called on Putin to end it. He also urged Russia to negotiate with Ukraine for a “just and lasting peace“. Germany has promised to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
“Germany will continue to support Ukraine as long as necessary,” the German government said.
**Background**
The last time Putin and Scholz spoke was on December 2, 2022. This is the first time a head of government from a European Union country supporting Ukraine has spoken directly with Putin since then.
Germany’s main backer of Ukraine is facing internal political turmoil. However, both Scholz and opposition leader Friedrich Merz have promised to maintain aid to Ukraine in line with current policies.
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