German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated that he wants to continue talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone despite criticism from Kiev and other Western leaders, DPA reported.
"I spoke with the Russian president and I will do it again", he said after a meeting with his Estonian counterpart Kristen Michal in Berlin.
But according to him, he will always make it clear that Putin must "end the war, end his aggression and withdraw his troops".
Michal countered that he doubted whether Putin could be convinced to back down with phone calls. In his opinion, Russia should be forced to sit at the negotiating table by continuing and increasing Western support for Ukraine.
In November, Scholz had a phone conversation with Putin for the first time in more than two years and was criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other leaders.
Among them was Michal, who said at the time: "This conversation will not lead to any peace". According to him, the idea that such talks could be of any use is quite dubious. "A positive situation and message could rather be the provision of more aid, support and weapons to Ukraine," he added.