The Chancellor called for an open dialogue between the European Union and Putin. On the eve of the FT reported that Berlin and Paris proposed to hold the first Russia — EU summit in seven years
Angela Merkel
The European Union should develop common mechanisms for negotiations with Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin. This was stated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking with a government message in the Bundestag.
“I believe that the EU should seek direct contact with Russia and the Russian president.”..”We need mechanisms for a unified and common response to Russia’s actions,” Merkel said.
She noted that due to its geographical location, the EU is responsible for what is happening in the Eastern Partnership countries-Ukraine, Belarus, and the Western Balkans.
The Chancellor welcomed the resumption of dialogue between Moscow and Washington at the level of top officials, but stressed that this is not enough, “the EU must also create formats for dialogue, there is no other way to solve conflicts,” Merkel explained.
Merkel addressed the Bundestag for the last time with a government message. After the parliamentary elections, which will take place in September, she will leave the post of German Chancellor.
Against the background of the general deterioration of relations between Moscow and Brussels, Merkel and other German politicians have repeatedly stated the need for an open dialogue with Russia. However, on the eve of the center-right bloc of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), led by Merkel, approved an election program that states the need to continue sanctions pressure on Moscow.
The CDU/CSU called Russia a threat to German values, accused it of direct threats against NATO, cyber attacks, disinformation and propaganda.
At the same time, sources of the Financial Times reported that Merkel offered to organize a summit with the participation of the leaders of the European Union and Russian President Putin. According to the newspaper, the initiative was supported by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The FT reported that the ambassadors of France and Germany have already started discussing a possible meeting with diplomats from other European countries. In particular, they are preparing proposals that could somehow change relations with Russia.