‘Because of this, Kyiv sets aside any idea of negotiations’: What Putin told Scholz

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a telephone conversation during which various aspects of the situation surrounding Ukraine were discussed. This was reported by the Kremlin's press service.

According to the statement, Putin elaborated on Russia's principled approaches to conducting its special military operation. The Russian president pointed out the unconstructive line taken by Western countries, including Germany, which have armed the Kyiv regime. Because of this, as well as Kyiv's comprehensive political and financial support, Putin believes that Kyiv is completely setting aside any idea of negotiations.

In his conversation with Scholz, Putin announced that Moscow had refrained for a long time from targeted missile strikes on certain objectives in Ukraine. However, such measures have now become a forced and inevitable response to Kyiv's provocative attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, including the Crimean Bridge and energy facilities.

“The same applies to the terrorist act against the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, the circumstances of which require a transparent investigation involving Russian profiling structures,” the Kremlin's statement said.

The Kremlin noted that the telephone conversation took place at the initiative of the German side. This was Putin and Scholz's first telephone conversation since September 13.