German chancellor calls for end to conflict in phone call with Putin

BERLIN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone on Friday afternoon, according to a statement issued by the German federal government.
During the call, Scholz urged Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine and bring an end to the conflict. He emphasized the need for Russia to negotiate with Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace, and reiterated Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary.
According to a statement from the Kremlin, Putin noted that the crisis was “a direct result of NATO’s long-standing aggressive policies” aimed at creating an “anti-Russian bridgehead” on Ukrainian territory while ignoring Russia’s security interests.
Affirming Russia’s openness to resuming talks, Putin asserted that his country had never rejected the possibility of dialogue. But he underscored that Moscow’s security interests be taken into account in resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Regarding German-Russian relations, Putin acknowledged their unprecedented decline in all areas, but expressed a willingness to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation.
It was the first time for the two leaders to hold talks in almost two years. ■