Zelensky on his criticism of Scholz's call to Putin: "Don't recognize him as president; he’s a killer."

He mentioned this in an interview with the American television channel Fox News.

According to Zelensky, during their meeting, Scholz informed him that he planned to call Putin. However, the Ukrainian president believes that such a conversation would only be beneficial if its outcomes were clear: “What did the chancellor gain from this call? Nothing. Nothing new.”

He adds that the political isolation of the Russian leader is also putting pressure on him.

“We are fighting not only with weapons but also with diplomacy. Diplomacy is very important. And only diplomacy can end this war,” Zelensky says.

Despite the fact that American and European intelligence agencies are interacting with the Russian side even during the war in Ukraine, this, according to the president, does not contradict their policy of political isolation in Kyiv.

“You must not recognize Putin as president because he is a murderer. Otherwise, you will undermine this political isolation,” he added.

Scholz's Call to Putin

Amid reports in the media that the newly elected US president Donald Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine (although the Kremlin denied this), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that he would also like to resume negotiations with the head of Russia.

On November 15, Scholz and Putin held a phone conversation—the first in nearly two years. Following the conversation, the German government reported that Scholz condemned Russia's war against Ukraine and urged Putin to withdraw troops.

The phone call between the German chancellor and the Russian leader was criticized by politicians from various countries and within Germany itself.

President Vladimir Zelensky stated that this call opens the "Pandora's box". Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that Putin cannot be stopped by phone calls, adding that the upcoming weeks will be crucial.

At the same time, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau supported Scholz's conversation with Putin. According to the Canadian politician, the war in Ukraine could end in the coming months.

Scholz himself believes that his phone conversation with the head of Russia was the right step, although he acknowledged that little has changed in Putin's views on the war.