The German chancellor spoke to Russia's leader for the first time in nearly two years.

Summary

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone for the first time since December 2022, with Scholz condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its use of North Korean troops as a “grave escalation.”

Scholz urged Putin to withdraw troops and negotiate a “fair and lasting peace,” emphasizing Germany’s continued support for Ukraine.

Putin blamed NATO’s “aggressive policy” and insisted peace must reflect “new territorial realities” of occupied Ukrainian land.

Amid growing political and economic pressures, Scholz faces criticism over his handling of the war and upcoming elections.

  • Crazyblu@lemmy.zipEnglish
    1049·
    2 days ago

    What a great idea, im shocked no one thought of it sooner, surely it wont create any more escalations

    • LANIK2000@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      9 hours ago

      Putin has only ever escalated when his actions didn’t have any consequences. Notice how he does crazy shit whenever support gets weaker, but when Abrams, ATACMS or F16 arrived, it was met with almost radio silence. Putin is a fucking coward and we need to keep pushing!

      Edit: Oh yea! Also barely reacted to Ukraine saying it wants nukes, be it NATO’s or their own.

    • Devorlon@lemmy.zipEnglish
      72·
      13 hours ago

      Ye, we should keep appeasing Putin to avoid further escalations. Cause that worked the last time

      • Ech@lemm.eeEnglish
        411·
        6 hours ago

        If we’re trying to avoid WWIII, yes. It sucks and is unfair, but the responsible choice isn’t always the fair choice.

        *Jeez y’all, I’m not saying to just roll over and die here. There are other ways to respond that aren’t “send an international force of soldiers into war, all but guaranteeing worldwide war between nuclear powers”. There’s a necessary calculus here that’s just a few steps above grade school level retribution.

        • LANIK2000@lemmy.worldEnglish
          41·
          9 hours ago

          I’d invite you to finish your thought. Because the logical conclusion of that is giving them everything. That’s the only way to “avoid” WW3 according to that logic. This also happens to be exactly how WW2 started, food for thought.

          I’d also like to draw your attention to the fact that Putin barely reacts to Ukraine gaining ground. Sinking of the Moskva, invading their territory, saying they’ll get nukes one way or another. He’s a coward that only advances when he thinks he can get away with it. It’s why this war even started. He seriously thought it would be a 3 day operation and that everyone would quickly forget about it.

        • KnoxvomicaEnglish
          51·
          12 hours ago

          The responsible choice is to not appease. Putin can decide if he wants to escalate against Germany and NATO.

    • PhobosAnomaly@feddit.ukEnglish
      712·
      2 days ago

      In fact, the “Ukraine war” title doesn’t really do it justice then does it.

      Maybe they should rebrand it, call it a different War, maybe something that reflects the whole World that gets involved. If there’s been a couple before, just stick a number 3 on the end. Sorted.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
        41·
        2 days ago

        Can it not end in explosions far bigger than the two explosions that ended the one with the number two please?

        • PhobosAnomaly@feddit.ukEnglish
          3·
          1 day ago

          Yeah fingers crossed. I’m rather hopeful it won’t. That would really suck.

          For all my sarcasm around what the war will be referred to in the history books, I’m hoping it will be a footnote in history and not one of the future’s biggest Wikipedia pages like the last one was.