Summary
Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that NATO must accept “new territorial realities” in Ukraine as a precondition for peace talks, reiterating claims that NATO’s “aggressive policies” and disregard for Russian security interests caused the war.
Scholz condemned Russia’s aggression and called for troop withdrawal during the call, which has drawn criticism from Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Zelensky warned the talks could ease Putin’s international isolation without altering Russia’s stance.
A Western diplomat suggested Scholz might leverage the call domestically amid Germany’s upcoming snap elections.
The title is quite misleading. Scholz is leader of a NATO country, but it reads like an ultimatum was issued to the leader of NATO, which Scholz is definitely not.
Scholz is barely the leader of Germany. But at least we’ve got rid of the FDP.
The actual leader is Bernd das Brot.