Negotiations with the Russian dictator were "not pleasant" either before or after the onset of aggression in Ukraine, the chancellor emphasized.
"The conversation was not pleasant this time either. But you have to talk, even just to hear it. After all, there are people in Germany who believe that a simple phone call will bring peace the next day. Of course, that's not the case," he stated.
Scholz claims that Putin sticks to the same arguments as at the start of the full-scale war.
"All the arguments were basically repeated again. And it was clear to me that I needed to reiterate my own. That is, Mr. Putin, do not expect us to lessen our support. You must find a way out of this war. You need to cease your attacks and withdraw your troops," the head of the German government explained his position.