Russian pranksters posing as Ukraine's ex-President Petro Poroshenko managed to contact Angela Merkel by phone to discuss developments in Ukraine and Belarus, although the former German chancellor appeared wary during the call.
Merkel's office said Monday that the former German leader received a call Jan. 12 from someone claiming to be Poroshenko. The conversation was assisted by a German-Ukrainian interpreter from the German Foreign Ministry's language service.
In an emailed statement, the office said Merkel informed the ministry afterward about the "impression that she gained of the caller during the call," but didn't elaborate on what that was.Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, known as Vovan and Lexus, posted on their Telegram channel what they said were excerpts from the call.
The recording features Merkel saying -- as she has done publicly before -- that the much-criticized Minsk peace agreement had bought precious time for Ukraine. Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande had brokered the peace agreement with Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015. She also criticizes repression in autocratic Belarus.
Poroshenko was Ukraine's president from 2014 until 2019. Merkel led Germany from 2005 until the end of 2021.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine, says U.S. Vice President Kamala HarrisSpeaking at the Munich Security Conference, Harris said that the international community has both a moral and a strategic interest in pursuing those crimes
Read more »
Putin's Ukraine gamble seen as biggest threat to his ruleRussian President Vladimir Putin, who started the war in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and could end it in a minute, appears to be determined to prevail, ruthlessly and at all costs.
Read more »
Joe Biden visits Ukraine ahead of war anniversary: 'Kyiv stands'U.S. President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a striking gesture of solidarity
Read more »
Russian diplomats ordered out of the NetherlandsThe Dutch government said Saturday that 'a number' of Russian diplomats will have to leave the Netherlands, accusing Moscow of trying to smuggle spies into the country.
Read more »