Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which lasted more than three hours, ended in the Kremlin. The two leaders talked about the topics of talks at a press conference on Tuesday, February 15.
Thus, one of the topics was energy, in particular gas supplies, including Nord Stream 2 and through Ukraine.
"We are ready to continue the gas supplies via Ukraine even after 2024, when the current contract on transit through this country expires. Naturally, if there is demand from European importers and it is profitable. And the Ukrainian gas transportation system itself will be in good technical condition," Putin said.
According to him, Nord Stream-2 has no political coloring, it is designed to strengthen energy security in Europe.
In general, he noted that the meeting was held in a business-like atmosphere. Putin said he saw in Scholz the mood for further mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation between Moscow and Berlin.
"During today's talks, which were held in a business-like atmosphere, we discussed a number of issues of bilateral relations and prospects for their development in detail and, of course, paid attention to the most topical issues of the international agenda," Putin said.
For his part, Scholz said it was important to maintain a dialogue with Russia.
"We didn't miss a single topic that is present in the relationship between our countries. It's important that we really talk to each other," he said.
Scholz said he had a "detailed conversation" with Putin, none of the topics were missed.
Russia has made demands on security because it does not want war.
"As for war in Europe. People can hardly imagine a war in Europe, it was said in the context of Ukraine. But we have, after all, witnessed the war in Europe unleashed by NATO, the strike on Belgrade... This is a very bad example, but it was," Putin said.
At the same time, he stressed that he would not want a war in Europe. "Do we want that? Of course not," he added.
Scholz said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had promised him that the Trilateral Contact Group would soon begin discussing bills on the special status of Donbass and elections in the non-controlled territories, as well as a bill on amendments to the Ukrainian Constitution.
"We are unanimous in the opinion that the Normandy format is and will continue to be the most important format for resolving this conflict. There is a need for movement and progress here. Zelensky promised that within the framework of the TCG very soon will discuss all the envisaged draft laws on the status of Donbas, on changes to the Constitution and the preparation of elections. This is a good move," noted Scholz.
He said that he had informed Putin of his concerns about the situation on the borders of Ukraine. Scholz said that the positions of the West and Russia on security guarantees are divergent, which is why dialogue is important. He also said that NATO expansion is not on the agenda right now.
Putin said that for Russia, the postponement of Ukraine's accession to NATO does not change anything - "we want to solve this issue now."
"They say that Ukraine will not be in NATO in the next few years. What is "they say"? We have been told for 30 years that there will be no NATO expansion, but today we see NATO infrastructure right outside our home," he said and added that Ukraine's accession to NATO is being discussed now.
"Russia hears that Ukraine today is not ready to join NATO, we know this thesis. And then they say that it will not be accepted tomorrow, but it will be accepted when it is prepared for it. But for us it may already be too late. Therefore, we want to resolve this issue now, right now, in the near future, during the negotiation process, by peaceful means," Putin said.
