German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a rare hour-long phone call on Friday, marking their first direct conversation in nearly two years.

According to German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit, Scholz reaffirmed Germany's "continued and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine" as it faces nearly 1,000 days of Russian aggression. The chancellor also assured Putin that Germany would maintain its support for Ukraine, including military aid, in close coordination with European and international partners.

Prior to speaking with Putin, Scholz held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and plans to follow up with him again after the conversation, Hebestreit added.

However, Scholz reiterated in remarks to parliament shortly before the call that Germany would not supply Ukraine with the long-range Taurus cruise missiles Kyiv has been requesting.

The phone call comes as Scholz seeks to organize a second Ukraine peace conference involving Russian officials, following an initial summit held in Switzerland last summer. No date has been set for the potential conference. (ILKHA)