In Sochi ended the talks between Putin and Merkel
The President of Russia Vladimir Putin after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that they were able to discuss the situation in Syria, in Ukraine and preparations for the G20 summit.
He stressed that the Ukrainian issue is a concern of the parties.
“MS Merkel are in constant contact with the other members of the Normandy format,” — said the Russian leader.
With regard to the Syrian conflict, the Russian President stressed that his decision can be found only by peaceful means and under the auspices of the UN. “We also exchanged views on the situation in Syria, called for intensification of the negotiation process in the framework of the Astana and the Geneva format,” he said.
Also at the meeting the two leaders discussed the situation of gays in Chechnya.
“I talked about what was a very negative report about what is happening with homosexuals in Chechnya and asked the President about how to exert its influence to ensure the preservation of the rights of minorities”, — said Merkel, adding that the same applies to the organization of “Jehovah’s Witnesses”.
Vladimir Putin said that Russia is ready to contribute to the upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg was effective. “Let me emphasize that Russia and Germany are actively cooperating in the framework of “twenty”, including in the sphere of combating the financing of terrorism, money laundering, tax evasion and corruption,” the President added.
Mrs Merkel arrived in Russia on a working visit at the invitation of the Russian President. The agenda of the meeting in the Sochi residence stood the Syrian and Ukrainian crises, the prospects of Russian-German relations and preparations for the G20 summit.
This is not the first meeting between Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel since the crisis in Ukraine: in 2015, the Chancellor, arrived in Moscow to participate in commemorative events on the occasion of victory Day (conceding, however, the parade May 9). Last year the two leaders met at the G20 summit in China and at the meeting, “Norman Quartet” in Germany.