We need to keep talking to Russia / Article

German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a visit to Moscow on Friday, where she met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders of both countries acknowledged that Germany and Russia should continue the dialogue, although relations have been quite tense in recent years.

“Even if we disagree, we continue to talk. This must continue to be the case. We have a lot to talk about, ”said Merkel. For example, she mentioned the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime has returned to power.

German and Russian leaders seem to have differing views on this issue. Merkel has described the situation in Afghanistan as “bitter, dramatic and frightening”, while Moscow is trying to open channels of communication with Islamist groups and seems to be trying to foster relations with the Taliban.

Merkel has been the German Chancellor for 16 years, and this is her 20th visit to Russia. It is probably the last one, because after the German parliamentary elections on September 26, Merkel will no longer run for the post of head of government.

For his part, Putin welcomed Merkel’s contribution to making Germany one of Russia’s main partners in Europe and the world. Putin pointed out that Germany is Russia’s second largest trading partner after China.

It is significant that Merkel arrived in Russia on the day of the year since the poisoning of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been imprisoned for more than six months.

Merkel’s assistants have indicated that the time chosen for the visit is not accidental and that the situation with Navalny is still “unresolved” and has placed a “heavy burden” on relations between the two countries.

At the beginning of the visit on Friday, Merkel did not mention Navalny. Last year she visited Navalny in a Berlin hospital where she was treated for poisoning.

Merkel and Putin will also discuss the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which is scheduled for completion on August 23. Developments in eastern Ukraine and Belarus will also be discussed. Merkel will then go to Ukraine, where she will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday.

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