Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday to discuss the fight against terrorism, the situation in the Middle East and the implementation of the Minsk agreements, the Kremlin press service reported.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi on May 2,” the press service said. The formal reason for the chancellor’s visit to Russia after a two-year hiatus is preparations for the G20 summit to be held in Hamburg in July.
However, the meeting will focus on the key international issues. The two leaders who met fairly often prior to the 2014 Ukrainian developments will discuss in detail for the first time in three years the current state and prospects for bilateral relations, including cooperation in the energy sector, trade, economy, cultural and humanitarian spheres. “It is planned to raise key international problems, including the fight against terrorism, the situation on the Middle East, the implementation of the Minsk agreements aimed a resolving the Ukrainian crisis,” the Kremlin press service said.
For his part, German Government Spokesman Steffen Seibert said ahead of the visit that Merkel is going to discuss with Putin the situation in Ukraine, the conflict in Syria and the political situation in Libya. He also noted that the two leaders would hold two rounds of negotiations and will talk to the media.