Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel today for talks about the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as the NordStream 2 gas pipeline project that has drawn US ire.
Mr Putin arrives in Germany after a stop at an Austrian vineyard to attend the wedding of his Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl.
Ms Merkel warned on Friday against expecting too much from her discussions with Mr Putin at the government’s Meseberg palace, but said the two countries needed to remain in “permanent dialogue” on the long list of problems they face.
“It’s a working meeting from which no specific results are expected,” she told reporters. The two leaders last met in Sochi in May and struggled to overcome differences.
Ms Merkel and Mr Putin will each make statements at around 4pm before the start of the talks.
They do not plan to take questions.