25 Oct 2017 19:44

Problem of Crimea, Donbas burden on German-Russian relations - Steinmeier

MOSCOW. Oct 25 (Interfax) - The issue of Crimea's accession and the Ukrainian conflict remain a burden on relations between Russia and German, which are far from normal, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

"We are united in the opinion that the current state of affairs cannot and should not be satisfactory for us. We are still far for normal relations," Steinmeier told journalists after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

There are still unresolved issues, primarily surrounding the accession of Crimea and the conflicts in eastern Ukraine, which "are a burden and continue to be a burden" on the relationship between Russia and Germany, he said.