In a speech to the Bundestag on Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his readiness to negotiate a "just peace." Notably, Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin have not communicated since December 2022.

Scholz affirmed his willingness to engage with Putin, stating, "If the question is whether we will also talk to the President of Russia, we say: yes, we will." However, he emphasized that any decisions would be made "in consultation with Ukraine and our closest partners," underscoring the importance of coordinated negotiations.

The chancellor also highlighted the need to prevent future conflicts in Europe, stating, "This [war] is something that should not be repeated again."



Scholz’s remarks follow weeks of speculation in the German media about his openness to negotiations with Putin. However, it remains uncertain whether Putin is willing to engage. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock noted last week that Putin appears unwilling to even have a phone conversation with the German chancellor, stating, "These days, he is no longer even prepared to speak to the German chancellor on the phone."