German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told German media on Sunday that he is committed to maintaining direct dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The chancellor emphasized the need for ongoing communication, adding, however, that substantive peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia hinge on Moscow's troops' withdrawal. Scholz noted that this is a condition Putin seems presently unprepared for.
During their previous calls, Scholz had urged Putin to pull troops from Ukraine, but the Russian leader consistently conveyed his desire to annex parts of his neighboring country, which Berlin sees as "unacceptable."