Kremlin comments on possible Scholz visit to Moscow
The Kremlin has rejected reports suggesting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is planning to visit Moscow for a discussion with President Vladimir Putin about prospects for peace with Ukraine.
“No. There are no such plans,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told newspaper Vedomosti on Friday, when asked about the rumored visit.
Speculation about a possible trip to the Russian capital by Scholz first surfaced in Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) circles.
According to sources in the party, which is in opposition to Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), a business contact from the German Eastern Business Association suggested Scholz might travel to Russia for a “peace mission,” Spiegel reports.
However, the sources also clarified that no concrete evidence supports the claims, and that they view the rumored visit as a potential move to boost Scholz’s political standing.
The chancellor’s leadership is currently at risk, after his three-party coalition collapsed in early November. He lost a confidence vote in the German parliament on Monday, putting the country on course to hold an early election in February.
Scholz last met with President Putin at the Kremlin on February 15, 2022, just before the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
Their most recent direct communication occurred via telephone in November 15. Initiated by the German side, the call addressed the situation in Ukraine, with Scholz urging the withdrawal of Russian troops and advocating a “just and lasting peace.”
In response, the Kremlin stated that Putin highlighted Russian security interests and the new territorial realities as essential considerations in any peace agreement.
The November discussion, which ended Scholz’s long-standing reluctance to engage directly with Putin, sparked criticism from Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky. He argued that such dialogues could weaken global efforts to isolate Russia diplomatically.
Earlier in December commenting on the call, Scholz said that while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to change his position on the Ukraine conflict is “frustrating,” the German chancellor is willing to talk to him again.
Despite the renewed contact, both German and Russian officials have confirmed there are no plans for a face-to-face meeting between Scholz and Putin.
