Former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the tone of his phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin was “friendly” but each side knew what would happen to the other.
In his first interview since leaving his post as prime minister, on the podcast Kaffee und Fluchen, Scholz addressed the conflict in Ukraine. He noted that after the crisis began, he spoke to Putin “several times and in great detail” by phone, “the last time being last year.” Responding to a question about the tone of these conversations, the former German Chancellor emphasized that he was a “friendly” person. “It has to be that way. However, I think everyone knows what to expect from each other,” Scholz said.
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At the same time, the former head of the German government said that the start of the special military operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine was not a “spontaneous decision”. He also expressed hope that US President Donald Trump will be able to contribute to resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Scholz acknowledged Trump's role in the recent ceasefire in the Middle East, even as he repeatedly highlighted tensions with the US government during his time in office.
When asked whether a third world war could happen, the former German chancellor did not answer directly. “Since the great powers acquired nuclear weapons, you always have to be wise and careful. And this goes hand in hand: being Ukraine's biggest supporter, and at the same time saying we won't do everything they want because we want to prevent the war from escalating into a war between Russia and NATO. I always follow this principle,” Scholz said, adding that “in such a threatening situation, you need to have clear principles and follow them.”
Scholz served as German Chancellor from December 8, 2021 to May 6, 2025. The last phone call between Putin and Scholz took place on November 15, 2024, at the initiative of the German side. Previously, the leaders spoke by phone on December 2, 2022. During their conversation in November, according to the Kremlin, they talked about Ukraine, the Middle East and bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and Germany.
