Olaf Scholz Speaks with Putin Amid Ukraine War

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held his first conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in nearly two years, urging an end to the war in Ukraine and the initiation of peace talks. Following the call, Scholz informed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk about the discussion, emphasizing his condemnation of Russian aggression and reiterating the stance that no decisions regarding Ukraine should be made without its involvement. However, the call has been criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who warned it could weaken efforts to isolate Putin and insisted that such dialogues bring little value towards achieving peace. Scholz's political future appears uncertain as he faces internal pressures from his own Social Democratic Party, with calls for him to step aside in favor of more popular Defense Minister Boris Pistorius ahead of upcoming elections. This political turmoil is compounded by the SPD's declining popularity in the polls, which may affect Scholz's leadership position. Overall, the situation reflects a complex interplay of international diplomacy and domestic political challenges for Scholz.