Ukrainian air defenses shot down around 140 of the 210 drones and missiles launched at the country, primarily targeting the energy grid."This is war criminal Putin’s true response to all those who called and visited him recently. We need peace through strength, not appeasement."German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Nov. 15 held the first phone call with Putin in two years, during which he condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine, urged Putin to withdraw his troops, and discussed potential talks with Kyiv. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry expressed concerns over the Scholz-Putin call, saying that such lengthy conversations have been a tool Putin has exploited for over 20 years, now providing him hope for easing his international isolation.The call came amid growing uncertainties about the stability of Western support and Ukraine's setbacks on the battlefield.