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.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the German chancellor's phone call with Russia's leader on Friday opened a "Pandora's box" that undermined efforts to isolate Vladimir Putin and end the war in Ukraine with a "fair peace".

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