The Kremlin has dismissed claims that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz intends to visit Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin regarding peace prospects in Ukraine.

“No. There are no such plans,” stated Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in an interview with the newspaper Vedomosti on Friday when questioned about the alleged visit.

Speculation regarding Scholz’s potential trip to Moscow initially emerged within the ranks of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Sources from the opposition party, which stands in contrast to Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), indicated that a business contact from the German Eastern Business Association had suggested the chancellor might undertake a “peace mission” to Russia, as reported by Spiegel.

However, these sources also emphasized that there is no substantial evidence to back the claims, interpreting the rumored visit as a possible strategy to enhance Scholz’s political image.

The chancellor’s leadership is currently under threat following the collapse of his three-party coalition in early November. He faced a confidence vote in the German parliament on Monday, which he lost, setting the stage for an early election in February.

Scholz’s last face-to-face meeting with President Putin took place at the Kremlin on February 15, 2022, shortly before the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

Their most recent direct communication was a phone call on November 15, initiated by the German side, during which Scholz called for the withdrawal of Russian troops and advocated for a “just and lasting peace.”

The Kremlin responded by indicating that President Putin emphasized the importance of Russian security interests and the new territorial realities as critical factors in any potential peace agreement.

The discussions in November marked a significant shift, as Chancellor Scholz moved past his previous hesitance to engage directly with Putin, which drew criticism from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Zelensky contended that such conversations could undermine international efforts to diplomatically isolate Russia.

In early December, Scholz remarked on the call, expressing that while Putin’s steadfastness regarding the Ukraine conflict is “frustrating,” he remains open to future discussions with the Russian leader.

Despite this renewed dialogue, officials from both Germany and Russia have confirmed that there are currently no plans for a direct meeting between Scholz and Putin.