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.

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

Germany's government says that Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first such conversation in two years.