It would be wrong for European countries to close all channels of dialogue with Moscow, the head of the German government said during a speech.

The chancellor added that her nation wants to continue to trade with Russia, including in the energy sector.

Merkel commented on opposing positions regarding the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that will transport fuel between the two countries through the Baltic Sea, but defended the bilateral exchange to solve the differences.

A few days ago, the two countries discussed ‘common’ issues such as the fight against Covid-19 and the solution of the Ukrainian conflict.

During a video conference in which French President Emmanuel Macron also participated, the leaders discussed possible cooperation on vaccines, and identified common ground regarding the crisis that has been affecting the Donbass, in eastern Ukraine, since 2014, as a result of a violent change of government in that country.

The politicians also discussed the situation in Belarus, Libya, Syria, and agreed to coordinate efforts to have the nuclear commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran reinstated, paving the way to new and possible understandings.

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