17."The most important thing is that we understand we must not engage in another race for attention from the Kremlin right now," Valtonen said on ARD. "It won’t help if the leaders of European states make coordinated or uncoordinated phone calls with Putin,"Valtonen added, urging Western cooperation with Kyiv on the matter.Scholz spoke with Putin on Nov. 15 for the first time in nearly two years. The German chancellor condemned Russia’s war, urged Putin to withdraw his troops, and discussed potential talks with Kyiv.The call sparked anger in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying the conversation opens a "Pandora's box" for further engagement and that "it is extremely important for Putin to loosen his isolation, Russia's isolation."The call drew a mixed reaction from Western leaders.