**Finnish Foreign Minister Warns Against Phone Calls to Putin**
The Finnish Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen, is urging Western leaders not to make phone calls to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This warning comes after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently spoke with Putin for the first time in nearly two years.
Valtonen said on a German TV show that making more phone calls to Putin would not help the situation and might even create a “Pandora’s box” of further engagement. She is urging Western leaders to focus on coordinating with Ukraine instead.
**Reactions from Other Leaders**
The call between Scholz and Putin has sparked different reactions from other world leaders. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he supported the call, but expressed his distrust in Putin. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk disagreed, saying that phone calls would not stop Russian aggression.
Tusk also pointed out that the recent attack on Ukraine was one of the biggest in the war and showed that telephone diplomacy cannot replace real support from the West for Ukraine.
**Scholz Defends His Call**
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended his call with Putin, saying it was meant to make it clear that the West would not withdraw its support for Ukraine. He also said that the conversation made it clear that Putin’s views on the war have not changed, which is not good news.
**Concerns Over New US Administration**
The situation has become even more complex with the imminent return of a new US administration, led by President-elect Donald Trump. There are fears that Washington might withdraw its support for Ukraine, forcing Europe and other partners to increase their contributions.
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