Putin Tells Scholz Missile Strikes Unavoidable Measure

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in which he affirmed that missile strikes in Ukraine are a necessary measure in response to Kyiv's provocations.

During his call with Scholz on Friday, Putin highlighted that the Russian Armed Forces had long refrained from missile strikes against certain targets on the territory of Ukraine.

However, Russia has been left with no other choice than to respond to Kyiv's provocative attacks against its civilian infrastructure, including the Crimean bridge and energy facilities.

On his part, Scholz “insisted that a diplomatic solution must be found as soon as possible, which would include a Russian troop pullout,” according to Federal Government Spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit.

Hebestreit also noted that the two leaders discussed the global food crisis, adding that the situation with food products worldwide was "particularly tense" over the developments in Ukraine.

"The Chancellor and President Putin stressed the important role of the recently extended grain deal reached under the auspices of the UN," he said.