RUSSIA: Merkel-Putin Talks Underway In Moscow

Talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin are underway in Moscow. In her final visit to Moscow as chancellor (and her 30th meeting with Putin since she took office in 2005), Merkel is expected to bring up the issues of Afghanistan, Nord Stream II (and Ukraine), Belarus, and the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny (see 0838BST EM bullet).

• The two leaders will hold a joint press conference after the talks from a prestigious hall in the Kremlin usually reserved for official receptions or the accepting of accreditation from new ambassadors.
• Before the meeting, Putin stated to state-run Tass that "I would like to note that Germany remains one of the main partners for us, both in Europe and in the world as a whole. In particular, thanks to [Merkel's] efforts over the past 16 years as Federal Chancellor. the second trade and economic partner after China. Despite the fact that in 2020 we had a rather serious recession, now there is almost a twofold increase in trade in the first six months,"