Petersburg Dialogue Merkel to meet Putin on the Petersberg

Bonn · The Petersburg Dialogue will take place in July on the Petersberg in Königswinter. For the first time since the Crimean crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin are to take part.

In mid-July, a new phase in German-Russian relations may begin. For the first time since the Crimean crisis, both Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to take part in the St Petersburg Dialogue. Ronald Pofalla, co-chair of the civil society dialogue event, confirmed that the next meeting will take place from 18 to 20 July at Petersberg in Königswinter. On the evening of the 18th, NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet will welcome the approximately 300 participants from Germany and Russia to Schloss Drachenburg.

"Russia was and is a key partner in international cooperation," Laschet told our editorial team. There were clear differences, for example in the annexation of the Crimea in violation of international law, which had to be expressed openly in the spirit of a meaningful and honest dialogue. "The more tense the times, the greater the dissent, the more important the dialogue is," the CDU politician stressed. He was therefore pleased that the Petersburg Dialogue had come to North Rhine-Westphalia this year as the central format for dialogue with Russia. He had worked to bring this civil society platform of German-Russian cooperation to NRW under the patronage of the Chancellor and the Russian President.

"Appreciation for the Petersburg Dialogue“

According to our editorial staff, Russian co-chair Viktor Zubkov has invited Russian patron Putin to return to dialogue after years without the participation of the front row. In accordance with diplomatic practice, such an invitation will only be issued if there is a high probability that it will be accepted. Accordingly, the German delegation has also asked Chancellor Merkel to come to the Petersberg. Pofalla remained cautious about the confirmation. "We expect high-ranking representatives of the German and Russian governments," he told our editorial staff. But he, too, apparently assumes a high probability that the event will be upgraded by Putin and Merkel: "This shows the appreciation for the St. Petersburg Dialogue and its relevance for our relations", explained Pofalla.

The only thread of conversation worth mentioning

The most recent participants were the Chancellor and the President as patrons of the dialogue event in Moscow in 2012 initiated by Federal Chancellors Gerhard Schröder and Putin in 2001. Even then, both sides had been very critical of the policies of the other state. After the annexation of the Crimea, the St. Petersburg Dialogue was at times the only thread worth mentioning. But even there, both sides read each other the riot act every year.Putin's and Merkel's participation will probably also depend on the general political climate situation in July. "We want to be a good host in order to promote the diverse exchange between Germany and Russia," Laschet explained.

Partnership conference in Aachen

The Petersburg Dialogue will be atmospherically prepared by another major event in German-Russian relations, which will also take place in NRW: The German-Russian Town Twinning Conference, which will take place from 25 to 28 June in Düren and Aachen with several hundred guests from both states and will also be supported by the state government. The ceremonial opening of the conference is scheduled for 25 June in the Coronation Hall of Aachen City Hall. According to reports, a high-ranking cast is also expected here: The two Foreign Ministers Heiko Maas and Sergei Lavrov are supposed to have the event already in their respective calendars. But also the probability of this meeting taking place will be determined by whether the efforts to reach an understanding between Berlin and Moscow in the run-up to the meeting will go in the hoped-for direction.

(Original text: Gregor Mayntz; Translation: Mareike Graepel)

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