Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to dialogue with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agency Interfax on Sunday.
“We have repeatedly stated that we remain open to contact,” Peskov said, but noted that so far there has been no proposal from the German side for a telephone conversation.
Peskov was responding to a statement by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who said on Friday that Putin was no longer even willing to talk to the chancellor by phone.
Scholz recently emphasized that options for peace must be explored and there were reports of a planned telephone conversation between the chancellor and Putin.
In early October, Peskov said in response that Putin was open to dialogue, even though he said relations between Moscow and Berlin had actually reached a low point – and not because of Russia. He added that “on the face of it, there are no common issues.”
Scholz last spoke to Putin on the phone in December 2022, when he called for a diplomatic solution and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. In June, Scholz said he could not rule out a conversation with Putin in the future, but said it would only make sense if there was something specific to discuss.
