Lack of Trust Undermines Russian-German Relations - German Ambassador

  11 February 2015    Read: 881
Lack of Trust Undermines Russian-German Relations - German Ambassador
German Ambassador to Russia Rudiger von Fritsch says Russian-German relations are affected by the deep loss of trust between the two countries and added that Germany is looking for friendly relations with Russia.
Russian-German relations have suffered as a result of a lack of trust between the sides following the Ukrainian crisis, German Ambassador to Russia Rudiger von Fritsch said.

"Russian-German relations have been developing very closely for a long time. That is why they are particularly affected by the deep loss of trust," the diplomat told RIA Novosti.

Speaking about the crisis in relations between Russia and the European Union, Fritsch claimed that the "agreements made a long time ago suddenly stopped being followed and promises, for example to defend Ukraine`s territorial integrity, are not kept."

The ambassador noted, however, that Germany is "truly interested in friendly relations with Russia."

Moscow`s relations with Western countries, including those of the European Union, started to deteriorate following Crimea`s reunification with Russia and the beginning of the military operation in southeastern Ukraine in spring.

Crimea reunified with Russia following a referendum with an overwhelming majority of 96 percent voting in favor of secession from Ukraine on March 16, 2014.

The United States, a number of EU countries and their allies introduced several rounds of economic sanctions against Moscow`s alleged meddling in Ukraine`s internal affairs, a claim that Russia has repeatedly denied.

Earlier in February, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her French counterpart Francois Hollande visited Moscow to discuss Ukrainian crisis settlement proposals with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the discussion was constructive and substantial.

On Wednesday, the leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine are expected to meet in the Belarusian capital Minsk in a bid to find a solution to the crisis in Donbas.

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