For the first time in nearly two years, Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Vladimir Putin, the Russian dictator. German commentators are speculating about the politician's motivations. Was it the start of an election campaign or related to the upcoming G-20 summit in Brazil?

Polish President Andrzej Duda has condemned German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his decision to hold a telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, describing it as a mistake. Source: European Pravda,

The wildly unpopular chancellor's much-criticized decision to phone the Kremlin comes three months before he faces stiff challenges from the populist left and right.