Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for the first time with the new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, politicians phoned. Putin told Scholz about Russia's proposals for security in Europe, and they also discussed the conflict in Donbass. The Russian president, in particular, noted that Kiev is not fulfilling its obligations. During the conversation, Putin congratulated Scholz on starting work as chancellor, the Kremlin press service said. The President noted that Stolz had previously cooperated with Russia for a long time - being the first burgomaster of Hamburg in 2011-2018, he dealt with issues of twinning relations with St. Petersburg. During today's conversation, Putin and Scholz noted that they are interested in the further development of Russian-German ties.

At the request of Scholz, the interlocutors discussed during a telephone conversation the problem of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Putin, according to the Kremlin, informed the Chancellor in detail about the situation. Among other things, the Russian president drew attention to Kiev's behavior. He said that, as Moscow has repeatedly complained about in the past, the Ukrainian authorities are stubbornly reluctant to fulfill their obligations under the 2015 Minsk agreements.

Putin also informed the Chancellor of Russia's proposals for security in Europe. Earlier, Moscow handed them over to the United States and NATO.

In particular, the Kremlin demanded that former Soviet countries should not be admitted to NATO. The United States and the alliance should also not conduct any military activity on their territories. In Germany, the head of the Bundestag's foreign policy committee, Michael Roth, has already called the initiative inherently unacceptable. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht was more restrained. “Discussion of the proposals that were presented by Russia is correct and important, but it cannot [be allowed] for Russia to dictate to NATO partners how to position themselves,” she explained.

How the new German government relates to Russia

Scholz took over as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany on December 8. He replaced Angela Merkel, who spent almost 16 years at the head of the German government and resigned. Scholz is the leader of the Social Democratic Party, but the new government is formed not only from his supporters. It includes two more political forces: the liberals from the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Soyuz-90 / Green Party.

In Russia, the issue of relations with the new Cabinet of Ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany is topical primarily in connection with the problems of launching the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Scholz supported the project, although he noted that Russia should keep gas transit through Ukraine.

At the same time, a new critic of Nord Stream 2 appeared in the German government - Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock. After being elected, she stated that the pipeline could not be approved. Berbock explained that the new ruling coalition in Germany has agreed that projects like Nord Stream 2 must comply with European energy legislation. Nord Stream 2, according to her, violates these norms.

In addition, Berbock has already managed to expel two Russian diplomats. The Russian Foreign Ministry called this an unfriendly step and in response expelled two employees of the German embassy in Moscow.

Berbock declared Russian diplomats persona non grant after a Berlin court sentenced a Russian to life in prison for the murder of Georgian citizen Zelimkhan Khangoshvili. He was shot dead in Berlin in 2019. According to the German investigation, the killer was associated with the Russian special services, the Russian authorities denied all charges. According to Berbock, the murder of Khangoshvili was a gross violation not only of German laws, but also of German sovereignty.

At the same time, on December 21, Berbock called Russia part of the "European home." “No matter how critical the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border is at present, Russia is part of the European home. Europe consists not only of the EU, but also of the Council of Europe, which includes 47 states, including Russia. That is why we must do everything to avoid new military differences, ”she said.

bbabo.Net