Scholz Denies Alleged Plans to Meet With Putin

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply rejected claims made by opposition politician Roderich Kiesewetter from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) regarding a supposed upcoming visit to Moscow. Scholz’s office is preparing a defamation lawsuit in response to the allegations.

The criticism came after Kiesewetter, who serves as the CDU’s spokesperson on security matters, suggested that Scholz might be planning a trip to Moscow or a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the Bundestag elections on February 23, 2025.

Scholz dismissed these assertions as entirely false, stating, “Such claims cannot be made. It is deeply inappropriate.” He emphasized that there were no grounds for such speculation and noted that such accusations were upsetting.

The Chancellor’s response was echoed by his party colleagues. Matthias Miersch, Secretary-General of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), condemned Kiesewetter’s remarks as “shameful and treacherous,” calling for an apology.

Rolf Mützenich, leader of the SPD faction in the Bundestag, described the accusations as fabricated. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit added that the government was preparing legal action against Kiesewetter for spreading false information.

Earlier, Roderich Kiesewetter, security spokesperson for Germany’s main opposition party CDU, suggested that Chancellor Olaf Scholz may meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin before Germany’s parliamentary elections on February 23, 2025.