For the first time in nearly two years, Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the Russian leader Vladimir Putin. German commentators are speculating about the politician's motivations. Was it the start of an election campaign,

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.

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