Of Siobhan RobbinsEuropean correspondent

They haven’t spoken in almost two years – so today’s conversation between the German chancellor and Vladimir Putin is fascinating in its timing.

Shortly after the pair hung up, lines from the German camp quickly underlined that Olaf Scholz had condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and called on Putin to withdraw troops and end the fighting.

“The chancellor urged Russia’s willingness to negotiate with Ukraine in order to achieve a just and lasting peace and emphasized Germany’s unwavering determination to keep Ukraine in the peace process,” a government spokesman said in a statement confirming the call.

The conversation between the two leaders lasted about an hour, with Scholz also condemning the Russian airstrikes against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and saying that the deployment of North Korean soldiers to fight in Ukraine would lead to a serious escalation of the conflict.

The strong words are no surprise.

Once one of Russia’s most important economic partners, relations between the two countries deteriorated dramatically after the outbreak of war in 2022.

Germany is now one of Ukraine’s main supporters in terms of aid and weapons.

But that may not be the only motivation behind the frank conversation.

Scholz’s government has collapsed, a general election is expected in February and if the polls are correct, he will likely lose his job as chancellor.

He warmed to the political fray and in a speech this week presented himself as the safe choice for voters, suggesting his steady leadership had helped avoid an escalation of the war in Europe.

And what better way to emphasize that he is the best person to deal with the Russian president than a well-timed conversation with him.

Trump 2.0 increases the pressure

But next year’s vote is not the only ticking clock facing the chancellor.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House also increases the pressure.

The president-elect has claimed he will end the war quickly, which many in Europe fear could result in a bad deal for Ukraine.

On Tuesday, foreign ministers from Poland, Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy will meet to discuss the war in Ukraine, Trump’s election and Europe’s political future.

With so much uncertainty surrounding America’s commitment to NATO and Ukraine in January, it makes sense that the chancellor of Europe’s biggest economic power is calling Moscow and making sure he is at the center of talks with Russia.

Today, Scholz reportedly reaffirmed his unwavering support for Kiev, warning Putin that he could not “count on time to be on his side” and urging him to start serious negotiations.

The Kremlin also released its own version of the chat, blaming the crisis on what it described as NATO’s long-standing “aggressive policy” that it claims ignores Moscow’s security and the rights of Russian-speaking residents.

Russia also did not miss the opportunity to put the boot in Germany by blaming the decline in their relations on “the unfriendly way of the German authorities”.

However, there was no mention of the allegations of sabotage, cyber attack and espionage that Moscow is accused of carrying out by the aforementioned “unfriendly” German officials.

At the end of the call, the leaders agreed to stay in touch.

We learn that Scholz also spoke with Volodymyr Zelenskyy before and after the call.

Far from overjoyed, Zelenskyy said the talks would help the Russian leader by reducing his isolation and ultimately keeping the war in Ukraine going, according to Reuters citing a source in the president’s office.

The concern is understandable.

Russia is making inroads on the battlefield and Kiev’s success is dependent on continued support from both the US and Germany; both countries whose leadership is now in flux.