Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to the idea of dialogue with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agency Interfax, quoted by DPA, BTA writes.
„We have repeatedly stated that we remain open to contact,”, said Peskov. He noted that so far there has been no offer from the German side for a telephone conversation.
Peskov said this in the context of a statement by German Foreign Minister Analena Berbock, who said that Putin no longer wished to speak with the chancellor on the phone.
Sholz recently emphasized that the options for peace should be explored, and there were also reports of a planned phone conversation with Putin, DPA said.
In early October, Peskov said that Putin was open to dialogue, although he said that relations between Moscow and Berlin were practically at their lowest level, but not because of Russia. He added that “there are no common issues on the surface”.
Scholz last spoke to Putin by phone in December 2022, when he called on him 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 concrete to discuss.