Germany and Russia Should Seize Opportunity

The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel was a good start for EU-Russian relations this year, says Deutsche Welle - WORLD's Ingo Mannteufel.

Russia and Germany are two natural partners in the dialogue over European energy security. Now, as Germany holds the presidency of the EU Council, may be the time to resolve the complicated energy relations for the future. Angela Merkel, finds herself on the pinnacle of her power, as other Western leaders like Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair descend from their prime. Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, has only a year and a half remaining in office, and a chance to create a powerful legacy of creating a reliable and functioning partnership with Europe which, despite of all rhetorics, remains Russia's only viable partner for the foreseeable future.
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