The German chancellor spoke to Russia's leader for the first time in nearly two years.

Summary

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone for the first time since December 2022, with Scholz condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its use of North Korean troops as a “grave escalation.”

Scholz urged Putin to withdraw troops and negotiate a “fair and lasting peace,” emphasizing Germany’s continued support for Ukraine.

Putin blamed NATO’s “aggressive policy” and insisted peace must reflect “new territorial realities” of occupied Ukrainian land.

Amid growing political and economic pressures, Scholz faces criticism over his handling of the war and upcoming elections.

    • Knoxvomica@lemmy.caEnglish
      91·
      13 hours ago

      Do you think that citizens of a nation can’t make any calls on how their professional soldiers are deployed unless they are soldier themselves? What fucking cognitive dissonance is this?

      • Syntha@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        15·
        9 hours ago

        I think calling for your own men to be thrown into the meat grinder is unacceptable unless you’re willing to lead the charge.

        • Laser@feddit.orgEnglish
          4·
          6 hours ago

          Military deployments aren’t “meat grinders” for your own troops if they’re well-equipped and trained. That’s the whole point of western militaries.

          War is shit. But as an ex-soldier: you know what you sign up for. I also expected it during my service, though it never happened.

          It’s like saying calling firefighters to rescue someone from a burning house is only acceptable if you ran into it first. It makes no sense.

      • bungalowtill@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        25·
        10 hours ago

        You are accusing the other guy of cognitive dissonance? Interesting. Anybody who is calling for others to go to war somewhere should be answered with laughter or that statement. And by the way, citizens of a nation don’t decide much about war and peace.

        • Knoxvomica@lemmy.caEnglish
          2·
          7 hours ago

          Sure let’s start with the rich fucks in charge of nations who tell soldiers exactly where to go.

      • Syntha@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        13·
        9 hours ago

        If they want to sign up to fight in Ukraine, they can go and fight in Ukraine. Calling for others to fight in Ukraine is a completely different thing.

        • Kbobabob@lemmy.worldEnglish
          4·
          8 hours ago

          If only we could sign up for the military then decide what we do and where we do it for ourselves while we’re there, but that’s not how it works.