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Merkel stresses importance of her visit to Moscow on May 10

Putin and Merkel last met in the Belarusian capital Minsk at talks of the Normandy Four (Russia, France, Germany, Ukraine) on February 11-12 on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict

BERLIN, May 2. /TASS/. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has emphasized the importance of her upcoming trip to the Russian capital on May 10 during which she will honor the memory of those killed during World War II.

"For me, for example, the trip to Russia on May 10 will become a very important moment. Now we have very deep differences in views with Russia, including on the events in Ukraine," she said in her video blog on the German government’s website.

"But despite this, it is important to lay a wreath to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier there together with the Russian president on May 10 to honor the memory of millions of victims for which Germany has taken responsibility since World War II," Merkel said.

Earlier this week, the Kremlin confirmed it expected Merkel in Moscow on May 10.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "talks between Angela Merkel and [Russian President] Vladimir Putin will really take place in the Kremlin both in the narrow and expanded formats."

"We are also expecting Putin and Merkel to hold a joint press conference following those contacts," he said.

Earlier it was reported that Merkel plans to lay a wreath to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow in memory of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

Putin and Merkel last met in the Belarusian capital Minsk at talks of the Normandy Four (Russia, France, Germany, Ukraine) on February 11-12 on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.

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