Germany Tusk: "Telephone diplomacy" with Putin not very helpful

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has cast doubt on the usefulness of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Nobody will stop Putin with phone calls," the liberal-conservative politician wrote on the online platform X with regard to Russia's war of aggression in the neighboring country. The latest airstrike had shown that "telephone diplomacy" could be no substitute for real support from the entire West for Ukraine. "The next few weeks will be decisive, not only for the war itself, but also for our future," warned the ex-EU Council President.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) called Putin on Friday on his own initiative - the first time since December 2022. The SPD politician defended the phone call as important "to also say that he must not count on the support of Germany, Europe and many others in the world for Ukraine waning". He told Putin "that it is now also up to him to ensure that the war comes to an end".

SDA