© Alexei Nikolsky/press service of the Russian President/TASS
SOCHI, may 2. /TASS/. Russia and Germany remain committed to cooperation in bilateral relations and in resolving international problems including the situation around Ukraine and Syria, despite some differences.
These were the General results of the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi.
Speaking at a press conference after the talks, the Russian leader said that “Russia and Germany have passed a long and difficult path of mutual rapprochement” and the General problem of the two countries “not to lose the experience and to develop bilateral cooperation for the benefit of our peoples.” In turn, Merkel said that Berlin and Moscow “must always retain the possibility to continue dialogue,” although major progress in the relationship yet.
Willingness to cooperate
Putin and Merkel noted that Russia and Germany are ready to cooperate in those areas where this is possible, for example, in preparation for the summit, which this year will take place in Hamburg. “The Russian side is ready to provide the German presidency with all necessary assistance and to contribute to the summit in Hamburg was held effectively to be taken conceptually, consensus solutions on the most pressing problems of the economy and Finance”, – said the President of the Russian Federation. He also stressed that Russia and Germany are actively cooperating within the G20, including in the sphere of combating the financing of terrorism, money laundering, tax evasion and corruption.
“Our cooperation is a significant contribution to stabilizing the world economy”, – said the Russian President. He noted that these relations have prospects for development, recognizing that “many problems still very much hinders, but that is what we are going to discuss in the framework proposed by Germany in the negotiation process with the G20 and beyond”.
In turn, the German Chancellor thanked Russia for the fact that it “is a constructive partner in the organization of the summit “twenty” in Hamburg”. In addition, Merkel said, Russia and Germany can cooperate closely on combating international terrorism. “We are United in the fight against international terrorism,” she said.
Speaking about bilateral relations, Putin said that Russian-German “cooperation is not a bluff, not a signed piece of paper, this is the fate of entire companies and hundreds of thousands of people.” Through this collaboration, in Germany and in Russia “, supported by tens if not hundreds of thousands of jobs,” he added.
The Russian President recalled that Germany occupies second place in trade turnover with Russia after China. For the first two months of 2017, according to him, trade turnover between the countries increased by 43%. According to Putin, Germany is also in first place on volume of investments into the Russian economy, which exceeds $16 billion While Russian investments in the German economy account for about $8.5 billion
The situation in Ukraine
At the talks the Russian and German leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine and confirmed the need for strict observance by all parties of the Minsk agreements. Putin noted that the situation in Ukraine “serious concern”. According to the Russian President, he is in constant contact with the Chancellor and other members of the “Normandy format”.
Merkel, in turn, noted that he does not consider it expedient to conclude a new agreement on settlement of the situation in Ukraine and stressed the need to implement the Minsk agreements. However, she expressed dissatisfaction with the alleged trends Department of the Ukrainian Eastern regions. The German Chancellor also stated the need to “carefully study” the issues, “the expropriation of businesses, the transport blockade” and several others.