BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has offered Russia negotiations with the EU on the “possibilities of cooperation in a joint trade area.” In return, Berlin expects “a comprehensive resolution” of the conflict in Ukraine.
After talks with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Florence on Friday, Merkel said that “if the part of problems over Ukraine is solved”, there could be trade talks between the EU and the newly-established Eurasian Economic Union.
“I know that we have to talk about it at the European level,” Merkel said and stressed out “those are the projects for the distant future.”
Deputy spokeswoman of the German government Christiane Wirtz said there is no concrete offer for negotiations with Russia, it is a “signal of openness” for discussion. “In principle, we are open for talks on a joint free-trade area,” she said.
Earlier on Friday, German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung reported how Merkel’s offer was made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
