Almost all of the Victory Day Vladimir Putin conducted side by side with President Xi Jinping. And even a concert on Red Square, where the leaders of Russia and China again sat together include Chinese motifs. But the next day, Russia’s foreign policy turned from East to West. He arrived in Moscow German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Negotiations completed her four-marathon of international meetings of the Russian President. On May 7 at the Kremlin, one by one, came the leaders of the CIS and EAEC, Cuba, Mongolia, China, India, Vietnam, the Czech Republic, South Africa, as well as UN Secretary General. But the most interesting and unexpected will happen after. And not in Moscow and Sochi.
On the Victory Parade German Chancellor was not. But German diplomacy did everything possible to assure – in Berlin emphasize the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. German Ambassador to Russia Rüdiger von Fritsch emphasized that the war “unleashed the Germans” and “no country has lost more people, soldiers and civilians, than the Soviet Union.” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Volgograd on behalf of his country asked for forgiveness “for the immeasurable suffering that the Germans brought here, and to all those parts of the former Soviet Union, which today belong to Ukraine and Belarus.” Yes, and the Chancellor announced that her trip May 10 – an important event, regardless of the differences with the Kremlin about the Ukrainian crisis.
When the plane Merkel landed at Vnukovo Airport, Vladimir Putin completed the meeting with the President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe . It was an unusual meeting. 91-year-old African leader, since 1980 the head of one of the poorest countries in the world, it seemed, was eager to support the Russian president invited him. Mugabe has called himself a colleague of Putin’s anti-Western sanctions. And even described the “imperialist pyramid”, the apex of which, in his opinion, are the United States, followed by Europe. From the words of Mugabe it appeared that “Russia has managed to withstand the onslaught of the United States,” and the president of the African republic because it was so nice to attend the parade – like at the revival of Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, during a meeting in the Kremlin
To Eternal Flame Machine Vladimir Putin arrived first. Frau, has given her a bouquet of flowers in his hands, I came a little later. The Chancellor looked so tired, as if it was not Putin, and she spent a four-day marathon of international meetings and negotiations. The sun beating down mercilessly Moscow, it sounded a funeral march. Putin and Merkel trimmed ribbons on the huge wreaths. Several ceremonial settlement marched in front of them. So we can assume, Merkel hits saw firsthand. At least in part. By the way, St. George’s ribbons on black jacket Chancellor was not.
In the Kremlin, they walked along the way even managed to take pictures with tourists. In fact, Arena, and Red Square were closed at the input, but the Kremlin wandered foreign visitors photographed Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon. And at the same time the Russian president.
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15:08 February 12, 2015
It was their first personal meeting in Minsk after a “hard night”, as it called Merkel. And the first in the last few years, a press conference for journalists. Before that it sounded a joint statement. Noteworthy moments: first, journalists announced that the opportunity to talk with the leaders will not, then allowed to ask two questions, but in the end was made for five.
Another remarkable moment. In his statement to the press Vladimir Putin spoke more about economics than about politics. Entrepreneurs, in the opinion of Putin, pragmatic people, so they do not go to the Russian market. A business circles of Germany, according to him, in favor of lifting the sanctions. In Russia, there are more than 6,000 German companies, and the total amount of accumulated German investment in the Russian economy more than $ 21 billion. Therefore, the decline of turnover (already at 35% this year) to anyone in Russia, nor in Germany did not need it, Putin said.
As he believes in another: the success of the settlement in the Donbas depends primarily on Ukrainian leadership. “We will provide all of our influence on the leadership of Donetsk and Lugansk, so that the peace process was the right pace and with the right quality,” – promised to the Russian president.
But the theme of the Ukrainian crisis has not been exhausted . Answering questions from journalists, Mr Putin, as has been done this earlier, he called for common standards of assessment of conflict situations in the world, but not to the use of “might is right” and “right fist».
«Look at Yemen – he suggested. – There’s coup, the president relinquished power. Now other countries by force of arms want it back. And in Ukraine – on the contrary. There just was not curses against Yanukovych! And some only support we had not seen in relation to those who committed the coup ».
The Russian President and the German Chancellor at the ceremony of laying flowers at the joint tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden
Frau Merkel about the economy did not speak at all. Her statement is more about historical events. She explained to his arrival: in the difficult for Russian-German relations, the situation, it was important to honor the memory of millions who died and to show that it does not work against Russia, and along with it.
«I want to tell the Russian people, that tend to him for millions of victims, – said Frau Merkel. – The share of the Soviet Union had most of the victims. He waged a war of extermination. At the same time I think about the inhabitants of the besieged Leningrad, died of hunger and exhaustion, the millions of civilians who have been tortured and killed, about concentration camp prisoners and prisoners of war, on the scorched earth tactics when the Wehrmacht and the SS were literally wiped out countless villages and towns ».
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16:15 May 9, 2015
She thanked Russian, because they share with the Western Allies liberated Berlin and Germany. On the historical responsibility and guilt Merkel repeated several times. Berlin admits she assured that the crucial role played by the Red Army. But stipulates: “the annexation of the Crimea, which was carried out in circumvention of international law and military operations in Ukraine” have damaged relations between the two countries.
Merkel, of course, made a statement and Ukraine. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of that country should be restored, confident German Chancellor. It called for further work to resolve the situation and stated that it was necessary to find a peaceful solution – “we do not have anything else.” And I note that in this day from Russia, she felt the willingness to continue this work.
Journalists leaders to back the history, ask questions, about which we can argue for hours. They were asked to evaluate the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and asked how to overcome fear (meaning fear of the Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic states to Russia).
«As for getting rid of fear – thought Putin. – It is also the internal state of those who are afraid. We must still make a step forward, not live phobias of the past and look to the future. ” The meaning of the pact, Putin sees “to ensure security of the Soviet Union. At the same time Poland was a “victim of the policy that tried to conduct myself in Europe,” trying to annex part of the Czech territory. Merkel, speaking of the Covenant, said that it was made “on the basis of the illegal».
«Nevertheless, of course, World War II came from Nazi Germany, and we, Germany, to carry currently responsible for this, “- again and again Merkel.
Finally sounded for a long time in the air the question: Germany, which fought the Soviet Union arrived, and allies – not. “Deep down, you still have to conceal the offense, is this true?” – Asked Putin. At the word “offense” he grinned significantly. And trimmed to ask questions: “Our country is not at war with Germany, it was at war with Nazi Germany. With Germany, which itself was the first victim of the Nazi regime ».
Vladimir Putin Angela Merkel after a joint press conference in the Kremlin
On offense, he did not say anything, but noted that “issues of the current political situation still are less important than the fundamental things character. ” It turns out that at a reception in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory, where the invited veterans to Putin approached the veterans from the US, Great Britain and Poland and thanked him (or rather, of course, the Russian people in his face) for all that was done during the war .
A further meeting of the Russian president and the German chancellor did not go according to plan. It was initially supposed to hold a working dinner, but instead the leaders to the negotiating table. For lunch, they went only after the press conference. And if Putin this rate already familiar, Merkel looked more and more tired.
Late in the evening they parted ways. Merkel returned to Berlin, where on May 13 to meet with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. And Vladimir Putin flew to Sochi. He took the day off. But on May 12 the President of Russia, probably coming difficult negotiations. US Secretary of State John Kerry plans to visit the Black Sea coast. First, he will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and the next day, perhaps, the president of Russia.
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