Putin Talks With German Chancellor, Breaking Ice With the West

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia spoke by phone for an hour on Friday, the first discussion between Mr. Putin and a sitting leader of a large Western country since late 2022.

German authorities said the call centered on prospects for ending the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin confirmed the conversation and said Mr. Scholz initiated the call.

Mr. Scholz called on Mr. Putin to end the war, contending that Russia had not achieved its goals after almost three years, according to the German government’s summary of the call. Mr. Scholz condemned Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure and assured Mr. Putin that Germany would continue to assist Ukraine in the long term.

Mr. Scholz also told Mr. Putin he believes that the deployment of North Korean troops to assist Russia in its war with Ukraine amounts to a serious escalation of the conflict, according to the summary.

Despite Mr. Scholz’s apparent criticism of Russia’s invasion, the call suggests that contact between the Kremlin and western powers may increase, following the election last week of Donald J. Trump in the American presidential election.

Mr. Trump has expressed skepticism over continued American aid to Ukraine and has promised to push for immediate peace talks, injecting new uncertainty into the West’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s war effort.