The two leaders discussed Syria, the conflict in Ukraine, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and the Iran nuclear deal. Merkel was critical on press and cultural freedom as well as a ceasefire breach in Ukraine.
Image: Reuters/S. Karpukhin
Advertisement
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the Iran nuclear deal was better than none at all in a press conference with Vladimir Putin on Friday. She also criticized a breach of the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine that had occurred overnight before the two leaders met in the Russian city of Sochi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel to his Sochi residence on FridayImage: picture-alliance/Sputnik/S. Guneev
What was said on Ukraine:
Both leaders said the Minsk accord was the "only basis" to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine, and that work should continue in the so-called "Normandy" format — involving Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine.
Merkel noted a "major breach" of the ceasefire in the region overnight.
Putin said Russia would support a UN peacekeeping mission in eastern Ukraine.
Merkel stressed that Ukraine should remain a gas transit country even after the Nord Stream 2 pipeline opened, and said Germany was "ready to play its role."
Putin said that Russian gas may still flow to Ukraine: "Supplies will continue if they are economically viable," he said.
Putin found warm words on Donald Trump, saying "I understand the US president, he protects his business interests. He wants to push his product to the European market." According to Putin, "Donald is not just the US president; he is also a strong, good entrepreneur."
German Chancellor Merkel in meeting with Putin moots UN mandate for Ukraine peacekeeping mission.
00:40
This browser does not support the video element.
What was said on the Middle East:
The US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal had created a difficult situation, Merkel said.
"It's not a perfect deal, but it's better than no deal," Merkel said of the Iran accord.
Merkel said the EU is "currently discussing" a law that would block US sanctions on European companies wanting to invest in Iran.
Putin said that European countries should help Syria rebuild if they want refugees to return to the country.
Merkel said that Germany has a strategic interest in good relations with Russia.
What else was said:
Putin described the talks as "very useful" for Russia, saying that they came at an interesting time.
Merkel said that "big problems can only be solved if you talk intensively about these topics where you're of different opinions."
Putin also commented on the news that the poisoned double agent Sergei Skripal left hospital earlier on Friday. "I believe that, if he had been poisoned by a military-grade toxin as our British colleagues are claiming, this man would die on the spot," Putin said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin addressing reporters following their meetingImage: Reuters/S. Karpukhin
Fraught ties:Germany and Russia's agreement on the importance of the Iran nuclear deal is a rare moment of concurrence between the two countries. Relations have been marred by differences over Moscow's support for Syria's President Bashar Assad, its annexation of Crimea and its role in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, among other things.
'A lot at stake' in Merkel-Putin talks
03:46
This browser does not support the video element.
What is the Iran nuclear deal? The Iran nuclear deal was brokered in 2015 by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, including Russia, plus Germany and the European Union. Under the deal, Tehran agreed to no longer carry out nuclear work that could result in the production of nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions.
What are the consequences of the US withdrawal for Europe? Europeans consider the deal as key to regional security and fear that the US pullout could lead to Iran's relaunching its program to acquire nuclear weapons. They are also concerned that Washington's reintroduction of sanctions on Iran threatens their economic interests in the country.
A year after Donald Trump pulled the US from the international nuclear accord with Iran, the Middle East nation announced it would no longer adhere to some "voluntary commitments" in the accord.
Image: picture-alliance/epa/D. Calma
The deal breaker
President Donald Trump announced on May 8, 2018 that he was pulling the United States out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, arguing that the international accord was not in America's "national interest." The decision threw a cloud of uncertainty over the future of the nuclear accord and raised tensions with US allies in Europe.
Image: Reuters/J. Ernst
Slap in the face
Britain, France and Germany lobbied the Trump administration and Congress to remain in the nuclear accord, arguing that the deal was working and a US violation without a follow up plan would be destabilizing. In European capitals, the Trump administration's withdrawal was viewed as a slap in the face of allies.
Image: Reuters/K. Lamarque
Iran scrap 'voluntary commitments'
A year to the day after Trump's announcement, Iran informed the other signatories of the accord that they would no longer adhere to certain "voluntary commitments." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the signatory nations had 60 days to implement promises to protect Iran's oil and banking sectors or Iran would resume the enrichment of uranium.
The decision came after the United States deployed an aircraft, the USS Lincoln, along with a bomber task force to the Middle East. Washington said the deployment was intended as a "clear unmistakable message." Iran said it took action because the European Union and others "did not have the power to resist US pressure."
Image: AP
A triumph of diplomacy
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed in 2015 by United States, China, Russia, France, Germany and Britain (P5+1) and Iran following years of negotiations. Under the international agreement, Iran agreed to dismantle its nuclear program and be subject to monitoring in exchange for the lifting of international nuclear related sanctions.
Image: picture alliance / landov
Compliance and verification
The JCPOA includes a robust monitoring, verification and inspection regime carried out by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The UN watch dog has verified Iran's compliance with the deal in 12 quarterly reports. The JCPOA allows Iran to pursue a peaceful nuclear program for commercial, medical and industrial purposes in line with international non-proliferation standards.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Schlager
Obama's achievement
The Iran nuclear deal was President Barack Obama's signature foreign policy achievement. Seeking to undo nearly every Obama administration legacy, Trump came into office calling it the "worst deal ever." The Trump administration argues the nuclear deal doesn't address other unrelated issues such as Iran's ballistic missiles, regional influence, support for "terrorist" groups and human rights.
Image: Reuters/Y. Gripas
Iranians approved
The nuclear deal and lifting of punishing nuclear related international sanctions created optimism in Iran after years of economic isolation. However, even before Trump pulled the US out of the deal, Tehran blamed the US for holding back international investment and not fulfilling its end of the bargain due to the uncertainty created by Trump's threats.
Image: picture alliance/AA/F. Bahrami
The opponents
After eight years with Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu found the US president he wanted in Donald Trump. The Israeli leader repeatedly slammed the deal despite his own military and intelligence chiefs' assessment the that JCPOA, while not perfect, was working and should be maintained. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the other main opponents of the nuclear deal.
Image: Reuters/R. Zvulun
Who's left?
The EU-3 (Britain, France, Germany) have scrambled to ensure that Iran receives the economic benefits it was promised in order to avoid Tehran pulling out of the deal. As EU businesses face retaliation from the US for doing business with Iran, many are opting to avoid Iran. This would likely be a present to Chinese and Russian businesses.
