German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin plan to hold a telephone conversation on Friday, citing people familiar with the situation, Bloomberg reports, UNN writes.
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This conversation will be the first direct communication between Scholz and Putin in almost two years.
It is noted that the conversation should take place at a time of "uncertainty about support from Western allies," which is "growing ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House next year." Germany, as the newspaper points out, is the second largest supporter of Ukraine after the United States and has pledged billions of euros in additional aid.
Some European officials are making last-ditch calls to the outgoing Biden administration to strengthen Kyiv's position before the presidential term ends in January. Trump, who takes office on January 20, has said he will push for a quick deal between Kyiv and Moscow, raising concerns in Europe that such a deal would be unfavorable to Ukraine.