Tatiana Kastoueva-Jean, expert The French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) assessed it negatively Friday's conversation between Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin. As he notes, the chancellor's phone number German “could only confirm Putin's belief that Germany and other European countries dream of resuming 'business as usual' at the first opportunity.” Russiaespecially in gas purchases.
The political scientist also asks the question why Putin would concede on the issue Ukrainysince European countries are ready to talk without any concessions from him. “Such behavior by the largest European country will not encourage it to soften its position,” Kastoueva-Jean pointed out.
Scholz-Putin conversation. Experts critical of the German Chancellor
Head of the Berlin branch of the European think tank ECFR (European Council on Foreign Relations) Jana Puglieri she emphasized that the reason for Scholz's first telephone conversation with Putin in two years was political situation in Germany. “Nothing has changed in the situation in Ukraine that would justify Scholz's initiative,” the expert said.
As she added, The chancellor's motivations are related to the elections in Germany in February 2025 and that he wants to “present himself as a 'chancellor of peace' in a country divided over support for Ukraine.”
According to Puglierin, Scholz's call was and could have been a mistake be much better coordinated with other European countries.
“This is not the time for beauty contests to explain who will call Putin first. Europa seems to be divided, which is not desirable either in relations with Putin or with The White House” – said the head of the Berlin think tank. As she summed up, “this initiative it brought no benefit“.
“Le Monde” emphasizes that the conversation took place “at a critical moment for Ukraine, when Western support is weakened by the choice Donald Trump for president of the United States.”
Quoting the comment of the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk to this conversation, the daily estimates that European partners reacted “quite discreetly”. At the same time, it reports that the president's conversation France Emmanuel Macron with Putin is not planned at this stage.