Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with the visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel today. A Kremlin statement said the two leaders discussed key international issues such as the Syrian conflict, the situation in Ukraine and battling terrorism, and bilateral ties between Moscow and Berlin.
Putin and Merkel also discussed the forthcoming G20 summit, which will be held in Hamburg in July. Both the leaders are scheduled to hold two rounds of talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. According to the statement, they will also discuss economic cooperation and joint projects.
Key international problems, including the fight against terrorism, the situation in the Middle East and the implementation of the Minsk Agreements on the Ukrainian crisis settlement are also planned to be discussed. The last time Merkel visited Russia was on May 10, 2015, in connection with the Victory Day celebrations.