**German Chancellor Warns Russia on Ukraine**
German leader Olaf Scholz has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that deploying North Korean troops against Ukraine is a “grave escalation” of the conflict. This was in their first phone call in nearly two years.
Scholz called for an end to the war and for Russian troops to leave Ukraine. He also condemned Russia’s air strikes on civilian infrastructure. The chancellor said Germany will continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
The Kremlin described the conversation as a “detailed and frank exchange of opinions” and saw it as positive that the two leaders talked. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the call, saying it weakened Putin’s isolation.
**Putin’s Response**
According to the Kremlin, Putin told Scholz that Russia’s relations with Germany had suffered due to Germany’s “unfriendly course”. Putin also said any peace agreement must be based on the current territorial realities in Ukraine.
He claimed the crisis was caused by NATO’s expansion into eastern Europe. This is the same reason Russia gave for invading Ukraine. The Kremlin believes a peace deal can only happen if the root causes of the conflict are removed.
**Germany’s Position**
Germany has been one of the largest donors to Ukraine since the war started. Most Germans support helping Ukraine, and politicians from across the spectrum have called for serious peace negotiations.
The German government is now in a minority, after its coalition collapsed last week. Chancellor Scholz is facing pressure to bring about a peace deal as elections approach in February.
Scholz’s fortunes at the ballot box could improve if he helps end the conflict. Germany has been hit hard by the war both politically and economically.
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