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Putin says no big changes in relations with Merkel

"We are guided by interests instead of sympathies and antipathies," Russian President Vladimir Putin said
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin (archive) ITAR-TASS/Presidential Press Service
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin (archive)
© ITAR-TASS/Presidential Press Service

VLADIVOSTOK, November 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was scheduled to have a personal meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia.

“I have scheduled meetings there. With the German chancellor. A lot of meetings,” Putin said in an exclusive interview with TASS commenting on his upcoming contacts at the sidelines of the summit scheduled for November 15-16.

He dismissed allegations that his relations with Merkel had recently become more strained and less friendly. “You know that we are guided by interests instead of sympathies and antipathies,” the president said.

“And she also had been guided by same interests just like any other leader of a nation, state or government. This is why I see neither considerable changes nor any substantial alterations in the nature of our relations,” Putin concluded.

Presidential aide Yury Ushakov said earlier that Putin was scheduled to hold separate meetings with British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande and other colleagues.

“Putin has cancelled no visits and declined no contacts,” Ushakov said, adding that such meetings should be purposeful and help the development of bilateral relations and resolution of key issues.