Polish President Andrzej Duda stated in an interview with the German newspaper: picture Government leaders, such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, should not speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These talks are counterproductive and “legitimize a person responsible for the crimes committed by the Russian army in Ukraine”.

In the interview, which was broadcast by the newspaper on YouTube, the Polish president said he was “shocked” by the ongoing talks with the Russian leader. Especially because of Macron’s recent call not to humiliate Putin.

“Did anyone talk to Adolf Hitler this way during World War II?” Duda asks. “Did someone say he should be able to save face? We should arrange it so that it would not be humiliating to Adolf Hitler?”

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Macron and Schultz have spoken with Putin several times on the phone. Their last conversation was last week. This included the resumption of grain exports from Ukraine. Macron described his talks with Putin in April as “a grateful act”, but said he saw holding the opening as his “duty”.