Official statements from the German or Russian governments, reputable news organizations

Scholz Denies Kiesewetter's Claim of Putin Meeting, Legal Action Planned

Jan 5, 2025, 02:23 PM

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has firmly denied allegations of planning a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the upcoming German parliamentary elections on February 23, 2025. The claims were made by Roderich Kiesewetter, a defense spokesperson for the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who suggested that Scholz might travel to Moscow or meet Putin before the election date. Scholz described these assertions as 'false' and 'deeply indecent,' emphasizing that no such plans exist. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has rejected the claim and demanded an apology from Kiesewetter. The German government, through its spokesman Steffen Hebestreit, has announced preparations for legal action against Kiesewetter for spreading what they consider to be false information. Additionally, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that there are currently no plans for Putin to meet with Scholz or U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.