German Chancellor Justifies Communication with Moscow.. Amid Kyiv's Criticism
Zelenskyy's absence from G20 and Scholz's contact with Putin reveal potential shifts in the diplomatic landscape regarding the Ukrainian crisis
November 17, 2024, 8:08 pm

German Chancellor Justifies Communication with Moscow.. Amid Kyiv's Criticism

شولتس وبوتين \ متداول

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained the reasons for his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the eve of his participation in the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Scholz emphasized in press statements before leaving Berlin: "It was important to tell him also that he should not expect Germany, Europe, and many other countries in the world to reduce their support for Ukraine."

The German news agency quoted Scholz confirming that he told Putin "it's now up to him to work on ending the war." The German Chancellor added that the long-planned conversation was detailed, revealing that it showed "the Russian President's views on the war haven't changed much, and this isn't good news."

The German official stressed the necessity of delivering a clear message that "Ukraine can rely on us, and we will continue our approach of not making any decisions that bypass the Ukrainians."

Scholz dismissed the idea of "holding talks between the American and Russian presidents without the participation of an important European state's head of government in the discussions as well."

The newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump had previously pledged during his campaign to quickly end the Ukrainian conflict through negotiations with Russia.

Friday's phone call was initiated by the German Chancellor, marking the first direct communication between the two sides since December 2022. During the call, Scholz renewed demands for Moscow to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and engage in peace negotiations.

Putin insisted on addressing what he considered the causes of the conflict, recognizing regional changes, and considering Russian security interests. The call faced opposition from several figures, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who compared it to opening "Pandora's box."

Scholz plans to spend three days in Rio participating in G20 discussions on poverty reduction, climate protection, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

He expressed disappointment about Zelenskyy not being invited, unlike previous meetings, explaining: "I made intensive efforts for that, as did others, but it didn't happen."

It's worth noting that Ukraine is not a G20 member, and host Brazil did not extend an invitation to Zelenskyy to attend the summit as a guest.

Levant-Agencies

Airstrike on Ras al-Nabaa Claims Life of Hezbollah Media Official Expectations of Full-Scale Battle After Iranian-Syrian Meetings

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”