Scholz urges Russia's Putin to end Ukraine war in call, says Berlin

Berlin: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine and withdraw troops in a phone call on Friday, stressing that Germany would support Ukraine for as long as necessary, said a German government spokesperson.

Scholz also told Putin that Russia should prepare for negotiations with Ukraine with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace, added the spokesperson.

Scholz had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the phone beforehand and will do so again after his call with Putin, added the spokesperson.