Accessibility links

Breaking News

Merkel To Meet Putin In Sochi To Discuss Ukraine, Syria


Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a G20 summit in China in September
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a G20 summit in China in September

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia on May 2 for talks on the wars in Syria and Ukraine and other issues.

Merkel's trip to the Black Sea resort city of Sochi will be her first visit to Russia in two years.

It comes as tension between Moscow and the West persists.

Ties have been badly strained since 2014, when Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and fomented a revolt against the government in eastern Ukraine.

The ensuing war has killed more than 9,900 people and continues despite a cease-fire and peace deal that Merkel played a key role in brokering.

Merkel has met with Putin at international events, but the Sochi visit will be her first trip to Russia since May 2015, when she attended ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the Nazi surrender in World War II.

The Kremlin said Putin will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on May 3.

Putin's office said that among other issues, the talks will include discussions with both leaders on efforts to fight terrorism.

With reporting by dpa and Reuters
  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG