Relations between Russia and Germany suffering because of different assessments of events in Ukraine

Relations between Russia and Germany are going through hard times due to different assessments of the situation in Ukraine, said Russian President Vladimir Putin after negotiations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"We held extensive talks with the Federal Chancellor and discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral and international agenda. It is not a secret that Russian-German relations today are going through hard times due to different assessments of the events in Ukraine. The mutual trade turnover in 2014 decreased by 6.5% for the first time in five years. Moreover, at the beginning of the year in January-February its decline was 35%. This situation is clearly not in the interests of Russia or Germany," RIA Novosti quotes Putin.

At the same time, Russia and Germany stand in solidarity in their evaluation of the events of World War II, Vladimir Putin noted.