Former UK PM Boris Johnson calls for end to talks with Moscow after Scholz-Putin call

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has voiced strong opposition to the recent phone conversation between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that it could mark a dangerous return to the "Normandy format".

Johnson expressed concerns that the revived dialogue risks treating Russia and Ukraine as equal partners in the conflict, a notion he criticized as "terrible" and a "shameful betrayal of reality", Caliber.Az reports.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Johnson said: “We risk drifting back to the ghastly Franco-German Normandy format which treated Russia and Ukraine as equally valid interlocutors in a domestic squabble.” 

I am afraid Volodymyr Zelenskyy is completely right. We risk drifting back to the ghastly Franco German Normandy format which treated Russia and Ukraine as equally valid interlocutors in a domestic squabble.

That is a shameful betrayal of the reality - that Putin has launched a… https://t.co/xBip68Y7Lf

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 15, 2024

He added that the revival of such talks would be a dangerous step backwards. Instead of engaging in dialogue with Moscow, Johnson called for a renewed focus on strengthening Ukraine’s position on the global stage.

The exchange between Scholz and Putin marked the first phone call between the two leaders since December 2022. The conversation, initiated by the German side, was confirmed by the Kremlin press service, which stated that Putin reiterated his stance on the ongoing conflict, blaming NATO’s policies for the escalation of tensions.

According to the Kremlin's account, Putin described the situation in Ukraine as a direct result of NATO’s "aggressive policy" aimed at establishing an "anti-Russian bridgehead" in Ukraine, disregarding Russia's security concerns. The Russian leader emphasized that Moscow has always remained open to negotiations, which were suspended by the Ukrainian government. He also reiterated that any future agreements must account for Russia's security interests and the “new territorial realities” created by the ongoing war.

Putin further criticized the degradation of Russian-German relations, citing the "unfriendly course" taken by Berlin. He also pointed out that Russia has consistently honoured its energy contracts and remains open to mutually beneficial cooperation with Germany, should Berlin express interest.

The conversation was discussed beforehand with Western leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to Bild newspaper. The discussions involved coordination with US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron during their visit to Berlin on October 18.

Putin reportedly listened to Scholz’s remarks in German without the need for an interpreter, while Scholz used an interpreter to understand Putin, who spoke in Russian.

This diplomatic exchange has sparked significant debate, with Johnson and other critics warning against what they see as a potential step toward legitimizing Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova