German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday dismissed speculation from an opposition lawmaker about a possible trip to Moscow ahead of elections on February 23. "This is a false claim," said Scholz in Berlin.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Social Democratic Party (SPD) colleagues have criticised as false the statements by Roderich Kiesewetter, a politician from the opposition CDU party, alleging Scholz's intent to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin before 23 February.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz sharply rejected accusations by opposition CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter that he might visit Moscow. Spiegel informs that the government is preparing a lawsuit for slander.

Roderich Kiesewetter, a politician from the opposition CDU and a defense expert, suggested that Chancellor Olaf Scholz might meet with Putin before the early elections in Germany, which are scheduled for February 23.