In a telephone conversation with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Germany and its allies of taking a “destructive line” with regard to the Ukraine war. According to the Kremlin, in the hour-long conversation, Putin criticized the Western states for “pouring up weapons on the Kiev regime and training the Ukrainian military.”
These military and financial aids are responsible for Ukraine’s refusal to negotiate with Russia. Russia attacked its neighbor at the end of February.
In his first phone call with the Russian President in seven weeks, Scholz reiterated Germany’s determination to continue providing military support to Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggressors. As government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced on Friday, he condemned the Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and called for a diplomatic solution as soon as possible, which must include a withdrawal of Russian troops.
For weeks, Russian attacks have paralyzed the electricity and district heating networks in many Ukrainian locations. The water supply was also partially affected.
Scholz last spoke to Putin on September 13. Before that there was an even longer break of three and a half months.
According to the Kremlin, Putin called on the chancellor to review his Ukraine policy. The Kremlin chief also defended the recent massive rocket attacks against Ukraine in response to “Kiev’s provocations” against civilian infrastructure in Russia, including the bridge to the annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was badly damaged by an explosion, and energy objects.
According to the Kremlin, Putin once again called for the “terrorist attack” against the Nord Stream 1 and 2 Baltic Sea pipelines to be clarified through transparent investigations – with the participation of Russian authorities. At the end of September, explosions tore four holes in the gas pipelines between Russia and Germany near the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm. The EU and NATO assume sabotage, but have so far been reluctant to assign specific blame.
Scholz and Putin agreed on one point. According to Hebestreit, both highlighted the important role of the recently renewed agreement on the export of grain from Ukraine. They also agreed to keep in touch. (dpa)
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Source: Tagesspiegel
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