German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that it is very important for her to be in Russia on the 10th of May, despite disagreements in relations between the two countries. It was reported in March that Angela Merkel is to visit Moscow on the 10th of May. During her visit she is to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The topics of their negotiations have not been published yet.
"We have very strong disagreements with Russia, including the current situation in Ukraine. However, it is important, together with the Russian president, to lay a wreath on the grave of the Unknown Soldier on the 10th of May in order to pay tribute to the millions of victims in World War II who are on the conscience of Germany," RIA Novosti cites Merkel.
The German establishment and other key figures made similar statements today.
Steinmeier is to arrive in Moscow three days earlier than Merkel, on the 7th of May. And he, together with his Russian colleague Sergei Lavrov, will lay wreaths at the German and Russian military cemeteries.
German President Joachim Gauck, in his turn, said that the country should be thankful to the people of the former Soviet Union for the liberation of Germany from the Nazis 70 years ago. «On the 8th of May in 1945 we were liberated by the people of the Soviet Union, but not only them. Therefore, we must be grateful and respectful," the president said.
