Scholz-Putin Call Sparks Outrage in Kyiv: Pandora’s Box Opened?
Berlin/Kyiv/Moscow – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’sphone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 15th, their first conversation since December 2022, has ignited a firestorm of criticismfrom Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy, according to reports from Sky News and Reuters, accused Scholz of opening Pandora’s Boxand undermining efforts to isolate the Russian leader.
The conversation, confirmed by both the Kremlin and the German government, covered a range of topics including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, bilateral relations between Russia and Germany, and the situation in the MiddleEast. However, it was the timing and the very act of communication that drew Zelenskyy’s ire. Sources within Zelenskyy’s office indicated that he had warned Scholz against the call beforehand.
Now there may beother dialogues, other calls. There will be a lot of communication, Zelenskyy reportedly stated, expressing concern that the dialogue could embolden Russia and potentially hinder international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for its actions in Ukraine. His statement suggests a fear that the call normalizes communication with Putin, potentially legitimizing his actions andundermining the international consensus on isolating Russia.
The Kremlin’s account of the call highlighted Putin’s perspective on the Ukrainian conflict, framing it as a direct consequence of NATO’s aggressive policies. Putin further characterized Russo-German relations as having deteriorated significantly across the board. He did, however, reiterateRussia’s commitment to fulfilling its energy contracts with Germany and expressed willingness to engage in mutually beneficial cooperation should Berlin be interested.
In contrast, the German government, through spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit, emphasized that Scholz used the call to press Putin for negotiations with Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace. Thisstatement underscores the German government’s continued commitment to a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, although the timing and context of the call have clearly raised questions about its effectiveness.
The stark contrast between the Kremlin’s and Kyiv’s interpretations of the call highlights the deep divisions and mistrust that characterize the current geopolitical landscape.While Scholz may have intended the call as a diplomatic overture, Zelenskyy’s reaction underscores the sensitivity surrounding any direct communication with Putin, particularly given the ongoing war and the devastating consequences for Ukraine. The incident raises broader questions about the efficacy of direct engagement with Russia in the current climate and the potential risksof inadvertently legitimizing the Kremlin’s narrative. The international community will be closely watching for any further developments stemming from this controversial communication.
References:
- Sky News. (November 16, 2024). Scholz-Putin phone call ‘angers’ Zelenskyy. [Linkto Sky News article if available]
- Reuters. (November 16, 2024). Zelenskyy accuses Scholz of opening ‘Pandora’s Box’ with Putin call. [Link to Reuters article if available]
- Kremlin.ru. (November 15, 2024). Putin’s phone call with Scholz. [Link to Kremlin website if available]
- German Federal Government. (November 15, 2024). Statement by Steffen Hebestreit. [Link to German government website if available]
- Phoenix News. (November 16, 2024). 朔尔茨与普京通话 泽连斯基：打开了“潘多拉魔盒” [Link to Phoenix News article]
(Note: The bracketed links above would be replaced with actual links to the news sources if this were a published article.)
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