Putin sent a congratulatory message to Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the the celebration of German Unity Day.

According to the missive published by the Kremlin press service, Russia’s president noted that German reunification was ‘an important historic event,’ which marked the end of the Cold War in Europe and the beginning of a new stage in relations between Moscow and Berlin.

The leader also expressed his confidence that the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in various fields would fully serve the interests of the Russian and German peoples.

Every October 3 since 1990, Germany has been celebrating the Day of German Unity. The reunification of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic took place 31 years ago.

At the end of August, Merkel held a meeting in Moscow with Putin, which was considered her farewell as head of the German Government, just a few weeks earlier the end of her term.

Both leaders discussed issues on the bilateral and regional agenda, including the situation in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Libya and Syria, relations with Belarus and issues related to the treatment of civil society.

Russia’s head of State explained that the sides thoroughly debated ‘even with the participation of delegations, the state and prospects for the development of Russian-German relations, exchanged views on a wide range of issues.’

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