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Baerbock and Lavrov
Photo:
Alexei Maishev / ITAR-TASS / IMAGO
Relations between Germany and Russia are strained.
During her first visit to Moscow, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she had arrived with a thick briefcase.
This is due to the fact that "major and sometimes fundamental differences of opinion" exist between the two countries.
At the same time one sees »opportunities for more cooperation«.
The talks focused on the Ukraine crisis.
It was difficult "not to see 100,000 Russian soldiers on the Ukrainian border as a threat," said the Greens politician.
At the same time, she emphasized the need for dialogue.
It is important to return to the negotiating table in the face of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
You have to find ways to revive the Normandy format.
"We are ready for a serious dialogue with Russia to increase security throughout Europe."
Baerbock has also warned Russia to refrain from threatening neighboring Ukraine and to uphold fundamental values in Europe.
"We have no choice but to defend our common rules, even if it comes at a high economic price," she said.
Lavrov "concerns" about NATO course
At the same time, she struck more conciliatory tones.
"There is no alternative to stable relations between Moscow and Berlin, and I would like to continue working on that and I speak here on behalf of the entire German government," she said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it was "unacceptable" to portray Russia as a warring party in Ukraine.
He was concerned about NATO's course.
Relations between Moscow and Berlin are currently at a low point.
After the murder of a Georgian in Berlin's Tiergarten in August 2019, a court convicted a Russian and accused Moscow of "state terrorism".
The two countries expelled each other's diplomats.
Germany holds Russia responsible for hacker attacks on the Bundestag in 2015 and for the attack on Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny with the internationally banned chemical warfare agent Novichok.
In addition, Moscow is angry about the broadcast stop for the German program of its state broadcaster RT.
fek/asc/dpa/Reuters
