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Vladimir Putin received Angela Merkel this Saturday, January 11 in Moscow, the first bilateral meeting between the Russian president and the German chancellor since spring 2018. Their meeting was devoted to major international issues - the Iranian crisis, the Nord Stream energy project, the conflict in Ukraine, but above all the explosive situation in the Middle East, a region in which Russia has established itself as an essential diplomatic player.
With our correspondent in Moscow, Étienne Bouche
At the Kremlin Palace, the two leaders expressed concern over the chaos in Libya. Vladimir Putin warned against an international spread of the conflict , stressing in particular the consequences for Europe: arms trafficking and uncontrolled migratory flows.
“ It is important to put an end to the confrontation between the Libyan National Army of Marshal Haftar and the government of national unity of Mr. Sarraj; important to establish a cease-fire, to take steps to re-establish the political process with the ultimate aim of overcoming division within the country and forming unified state institutions, "said the Russian President.
This week in Ankara, Russia and Turkey have jointly called for a ceasefire as the two countries support opposing camps in the conflict. The start of this cease-fire is set for Sunday January 12 at midnight.
On an issue where European countries have little weight, Germany intends to play a mediating role. Angela Merkel hopes to move the lines at a peace conference to be held in Berlin.
Asked about the presence of Russian mercenaries in Libya, Vladimir Putin rejected any relationship between the Russian citizens who were there and the state.
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