German Chancellor on Call with Putin: "No Change in His War Stance"

Chancellor Scholz: "Russia Has Achieved Nothing Through War"
"We Will Continue to Join Sanctions Against Russia and Provide Weapons to Ukraine"

Russian President Putin having a video conference with the governor. Photo by the Kremlin, AP, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that there was no change in Putin's stance on the war.

According to the dpa news agency on the 14th (local time), Chancellor Scholz discussed the Ukraine situation for 75 minutes during a call with President Putin the previous day.

He reported that the war situation is not turning in Russia's favor. The reason was that Russia has achieved none of its stated war objectives.

Russia had set goals such as securing Ukrainian territory as a buffer zone against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Chancellor Scholz evaluated that contrary to Russia's intentions, this war has rather revitalized the "Western defense alliance."

He said, "NATO has not withdrawn and has actually strengthened its eastern forces," adding, "Furthermore, with Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the alliance will become even stronger."

On the other hand, he reported that the Russian military has suffered significant losses. He explained, "The scale of Russia's losses is much greater than during the 10-year war after the former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979."

He also pledged that Germany will continue to impose sanctions on Russia and maintain weapons support for Ukraine.

Addressing President Putin, he said, "He must realize that only by concluding peace negotiations with Ukraine can he escape sanctions," but added, "The terms of negotiation cannot be dictated according to the Russian government's preferences."

Additionally, mentioning the severe food shortages faced by developing countries, he emphasized, "The world and Russia are now paying a very high price due to Putin's insane idea of expanding the 'Russian Empire.'"