There are several reasons behind German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s decision to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Observers on the Tsargrad TV broadcast cite Georgy Bovt, a political scientist and candidate of historical sciences, who argued that such a move signals a willingness to talk to Moscow. Bovt suggested that this outreach would carry credibility if the Social Democratic Party in Germany faces losses in the elections. If the SPD performs poorly and the CDU and CSU must form a new government, a grand coalition with the SPD could become a realistic option, and Scholz could still act as a key interlocutor with Moscow even if his time as chancellor ends.
Bovt goes further, offering a second motive. He says Scholz may be testing the waters to push Moscow toward certain conditions that would give him political leverage at home. In this view, the call serves as a signal that Berlin will negotiate with Moscow only under terms that align with Germany’s broader political goals while projecting stability to domestic audiences.
On November 15, Putin and Scholz spoke for the first time in almost two years. The German government said that during the conversation the chancellor urged the Russian president to negotiate with Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace. Moscow replied that Russia had never abandoned Ukraine and emphasized the need to account for new regional realities and address the root causes of the conflict.
Earlier Scholz had assured Germans that Germany would stay out of a war with Russia, emphasizing diplomacy and careful handling of the crisis. He stressed a preference for de-escalation and dialogue, aiming to keep Germany away from direct military engagement while supporting Ukraine through political and economic channels.