All news

Gorbachev urges Russia and Germany to restore trust

"This is what worries us most of all today — relations between Germany and Russia," Gorbachev said at the presentation of a book by German politician Scharnagl, to which he had written the preface
Mikhail Gorbachev at the presentation of a book by German politician Wilfried Scharnagl in Moscow Alexander Scherbak/TASS
Mikhail Gorbachev at the presentation of a book by German politician Wilfried Scharnagl in Moscow
© Alexander Scherbak/TASS

MOSCOW, July 21. /TASS/. The former president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, expressed concern on Tuesday over the worsening of ties between Russia and Germany, urging them to restore the former level of trust.

"Our relations... This is what worries us most of all today — relations between Germany and Russia, "Gorbachev said at the presentation of a book by German politician Wilfried Scharnagl, to which he had written the preface.

He recalled the times when Russia and Germany had managed "to embark on the path of cooperation" despite the war "bringing to the brink of an abyss". WWII left wounds "in hearts, in minds and in heads," he continued.

"Everybody understood there was too much hatred and believed that Russians and Germans would never get back to cooperation," he said noting that afterwards the two peoples "stopped such acute processes".

"I would urge all our leaders to demonstrate wisdom and responsibility in restoring trust and a dialogue on the whole agenda," the former Soviet president said.

He urged the two countries to state as soon as possible that they were restoring partnership and developing its potentials.