Ukraine accused Olaf Scholz of opening a “Pandora’s box” after he held a phone call with Vladimir Putin in an effort to bring about an end to the war. The German chancellor spoke with Putin for the first time in two years amid signs that European leaders are softening on negotiations with the Kremlin.

The German chancellor spoke with Vladimir Putin despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s objection that it would play into the Russian’s hands.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in their first phone call in nearly two years to pull his forces out of Ukraine and begin talks with Kyiv that would open the way for a "just and lasting peace".