Withdraw the troops
During a G20 online summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the conflict in Ukraine, end the special operation, and withdraw Russian forces. The remarks were made at a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where aid to Kiev and related issues were discussed, according to TASS.
Scholz noted that Putin attended the G20 heads of state and government meeting in person for the first time since the start of the special operation, after previously joining via video at the Rome gathering held from October 30 to 31, 2021.
“I called on President Putin to stop the occupation of Ukraine and withdraw his troops from its territory so that this war can finally end,” he stated.
Speaking for Germany, Scholz described Berlin’s stance as supporting a “lasting and just peace” in Ukraine, grounded in the UN Charter. He underscored that Germany would stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary.
dialogue with Putin
On November 12, Scholz announced his intention to maintain dialogue with Putin and emphasized its necessity.
“In this case, one must talk to him again and again, which is what I have done in the past and will do in the future,” he remarked.
Scholz explained that for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow to begin, Russia would need to withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory. He also suggested that Putin did not appear ready to take that step at the time.
The chancellor reiterated plans to resume talks with Putin on November 18. He stressed that he did not currently foresee a scenario in which Russia would make meaningful concessions to Ukraine.
Russian President at G20
Putin spoke by videoconference at the G20 forum on November 22. In his remarks, he highlighted a desire to find ways to end the Ukrainian tragedy quickly and noted that Russia has not rejected negotiations with Ukraine.
“Some colleagues have stated in their speeches that they are shocked by Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. Certainly military action is tragic. It affects families and the country as a whole,” Putin said.
According to the Russian president, Kyiv took a different path when President Zelensky signed a decree banning negotiations with Russia during Putin’s presidency. He added that all nations must seek routes to end the conflict as swiftly as possible.
“I understand this is a war, and the loss of life is shocking. The 2014 events in Ukraine and the subsequent conflict in Donbas, the ongoing devastation in Palestine and the Gaza Strip, and reports of medical procedures on children without anesthesia all weigh heavily,” the Russian president commented, noting concerns voiced by international bodies about humanitarian conditions.
Russia-Ukraine negotiations
The last formal talks between Kyiv and Moscow occurred in Istanbul on March 29, 2022. Then-vice president Vladimir Medinsky described the dialogue as constructive and meaningful, with Ukraine presenting a clearly defined position and expressing a desire for neutral, non-aligned status free of nuclear weapons.
On October 4, 2022, Zelensky halted negotiations while Putin led Russia. He later presented a “peace formula” in Moscow outlining conditions for dialogue, including the complete withdrawal of Russian troops to the 1991 borders.
The Russian Foreign Ministry outlined terms for signing a peace agreement. Moscow urged Kyiv to abandon aspirations to join the European Union and NATO and to return to a neutral, non-aligned status referenced in the 1990 declaration of state sovereignty.
Attribution for quotes and context: statements reflect public remarks from officials and reported summaries of the G20 discussions. These passages present the perspectives and positions of the respective leaders as conveyed in contemporary coverage and official briefings. (attribution: official transcripts and reputable news agencies)