Berlin considers important the prospect of creating a free trade zone with Russia, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"currently We have problems of a political nature ", - declared the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, speaking today at an economic forum in the city of Stralsund (the Federal state of Mecklenburg - Vorpommern). In her vision, these problems can be crossed by the exchange of political opinions, reports news Agency.
"The prospect of a new large zone of free trade with Russia is important for us (Germany) ", - said Merkel. The Chancellor added that the contract on Association with the EU), which were concluded with Moldova and Ukraine, is not directed against Russia." We, on the contrary, we approximate them sequentially to the common economic space, as once stated (President of Russia) Vladimir Putin - from Vladivostok to Lisbon ", - she explained. But first it is necessary to implement the Minsk agreement, even if this will be difficult, says Merkel. First, Minister for foreign Affairs of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the development with the provisions imposed by the West sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine will be depending on the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Moscow has stated many times that it is not involved in the events in southeastern Ukraine, is not a party to domestic conflict and is interested in Ukraine overcame political and economic crisis. In the capital of Russia emphasize that all the charges against her are unproven. Relations between Russia and the West deteriorated in connection with the situation in Ukraine. The EU and the US on the background reached in Minsk agreements Between Kiev and militias Donbass about stopping the fire entered against Russia punishment, against the financial, oil and defense industries. However, in March, Russia's envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said that a critical attitude to the sanctions against Russia from a number of EU members increases. In addition, the media said that Italy, Greece and Cyprus, as well as Spain, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia, whose leaders visited the capital of Russia, May not support the extension of sanctions against Russia.

sections: Politics