Spiegel learned of the letter to Putin Helmut Kohl because of the crisis in Ukraine – RBC

Vladimir Putin and Helmut Kohl (left to right) during a meeting at the residence of Putin’s Novo-Ogaryovo residence in 2006.

Photo: TASS

The German magazine Spiegel, citing unnamed sources, reported that recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a number of letters Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl. According to the newspaper, the messages focused on the crisis in Ukraine.

According to the authors of the material in Spiegel, «sending the letter, Putin hoped that Kohl will stand up for Russia in the situation around the Ukrainian crisis.” At the same time the former Office of the Chancellor in conversation with the publication refused to comment on the data.

Spiegel points out that the opinion of Kohl on foreign policy issues are still matters to members of the European Union. The publication drew attention to the fact that support for Kohl could help Moscow in connection with the tough stance of the current Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Journal reminded that Helmut Kohl has repeatedly warned European politicians from the termination of dialogue with Russia. “Russia’s participation in building a stable European security system is of great importance”, – he wrote in his book “The trouble for Europe» («Aus Sorge um Europa»), which was released in November last year.

In his Book Kohl put some of the responsibility for what is happening in Ukraine to the West. “The West, of course, can not be silent about the behavior of Russia and the situation in Ukraine, but he himself would behave smarter” – pointed Kohl. According to him, the two sides “have made mistakes».

At the moment, Helmut Kohl is the University Clinic of Heidelberg after hip surgery. Its representatives said that the state of the ex-chancellor “generally good».

At the last summit at the weekend G7 leaders “Seven” have agreed about a possible tightening of sanctions against Russia. According to Angela Merkel, Western leaders dare to take this step in if the situation in Ukraine will worsen.

Earlier, Angela Merkel declared that in the current circumstances the return of Russia to the G7 is “unthinkable.” German Chancellor also pointed to the “insurmountable barrier” in relations between Moscow and the West. According to Merkel, the return of Russia to the “seven” it is impossible to comply with Moscow’s “basic common values ​​based on democracy and the rule of law».

On the eve of President’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, Russia promised that Moscow will not leave without an answer strengthening anti-Russian sanctions. According to him, in this regard the Kremlin sticks to the principle of reciprocity.

The Western countries have imposed sanctions against Russia because of the Crimea and the fighting in the Donbass. The EU and the United States accuse Moscow militia in helping the self-proclaimed republics, including through the supply of arms and sending Russian troops in the conflict zone. The Russian authorities have repeatedly denied the facts of any support militias and pinned to Kiev responsibility for what happens in the country.