Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on Sunday, Merkel, who was standing close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that the Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula had caused "a serious setback in our relations," BBC reported (?).
According to her, the "criminal" annexation of Crimea, which violates international law, and the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine have seriously undermined the relations with Russia.
"However history teaches us that we must do anything possible to resolve conflicts, however, difficult they may be, peacefully and through dialogue," she added.
[unian.info]
10/5/15
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Putin, Merkel urge diplomatic solution to bilateral problems...
ReplyDeleteMOSCOW, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday jointly called for diplomatic solution to current problems between the two countries, vowing that both sides would strive for cooperation.
There are various problems today between Russia and Germany that should be solved "sooner the better", Putin told Merkel during their meeting in the Kremlin.
Merkel responded that Russia and Germany need to cooperate when facing "difficult situations" between the two countries, urging solution of the problems through "diplomatic paths", according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
The two leaders are expected to talk about problems in bilateral cooperation and Russia-EU relations, as well as key issues like the Ukraine crisis.
Before the two leaders held talks, they laid wreaths at the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers at the Red Square in downtown Moscow.
Putin thanked Merkel for coming to Moscow and paying tribute to the people who sacrificed their lives in the Second World War and Russia's Great Patriotic War.
May 9 is the Victory Day of Russia to celebrate annually the victory of the Great Patriotic War. Merkel didn't come on the exact day for Russia's grand parade but decided to visit Moscow one day later.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-05/10/c_134226676.htm
10/5/15
Merkel Urges More Russian Action to Halt Ukraine Fighting ...
ReplyDeleteGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russia Sunday to do more to urge pro-Russian separatists to abide by a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine and end fighting with Kyiv's forces.
"Unfortunately we still do not have a cease-fire today," the German leader said after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. She was in Moscow to pay tribute to Russian troops killed in World War Two, the only prominent European leader to visit over the weekend to mark the 70th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany.
Merkel said that in Ukraine there have been "a lot of violations (of the cease-fire) on the part of the separatists." She called Moscow's annexation last year of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula a "severe setback" to German-Russian relations and described it as "a violation of the basis of the common peaceful order of Europe."........voanews.com