German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “determined to occupy parts of Ukraine and shows no limits to his brutality,” but it is still important to keep communication channels with him open until the end of the war.
Schulz added during an event near Berlin: “When I talk with Putin, he says very clearly that for him it is about invading a place … He simply wants to occupy part of the Ukrainian lands by force,” according to what was reported by the European “Euro News” network.
Schultz is one of the most Western leaders who have spoken directly with Putin since the beginning of the war against Ukraine on February 24, and the last conversation between them by phone lasted for an hour and was on the second of December.
The German chancellor added that it is not yet clear how many Russian soldiers were killed in the war, but the figure may reach 100,000.
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And he added, “We saw the brutality that the Russian president can practice… in Chechnya, where he almost wiped out the entire country. Or in Syria, where there is no restraint. It’s that simple.”
He added, “We have completely different opinions. However, I will continue to talk to him because I want to feel the moment when it is possible to get out of this situation. This is not possible without us talking together.”
On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine, which was followed by angry international reactions and the imposition of “tough” economic and financial sanctions on Moscow.
