Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock, during which the parties discussed a number of international issues, including relations between Moscow and Berlin, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Russian proposals for security guarantees and pressure on the RT channel DE in Germany.

At a press conference following the meeting, Lavrov noted that Moscow was interested in constructive relations with Berlin and aimed at overcoming the accumulated problems with all members of the new government.

In turn, Burbock said that Germany sees no alternative to stable ties between Moscow and Berlin. 

“For his part, he confirmed his readiness for comprehensive cooperation with the newly formed new government of Germany in order to overcome the accumulated problems, and there are many of them, both in bilateral dialogue and across the entire spectrum of interaction between our countries in the international arena,” Lavrov said.

Relations with the EU and proposals for security guarantees

According to Lavrov, much attention at the meeting was paid to relations between Russia and the European Union.

"Unfortunately, in many respects they remain hostages of the anti-Russian line of Brussels and a group of anti-Russian-minded countries - members of the European Union," the minister stressed.

The foreign minister also said that Russia is still waiting for responses from the United States and NATO to their proposals on security guarantees in order to "continue the conversation."  

“We will hope that this conversation will continue, this is a very serious matter, and it simply does not work to delay specific agreements on this matter,” he said.

Recall that on December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published draft treaties with the United States and agreements with NATO on security guarantees, which were handed over to Western colleagues.

The documents, in particular, contain provisions on NATO's refusal to further expand to the east and mutual security guarantees in Europe.

In early January, Russia held a series of negotiations with the United States and NATO on these issues, but the parties failed to reach specific agreements.

At the same time, Sergei Lavrov stressed that Moscow does not threaten anyone, but it hears threats against itself.

“We will be guided by concrete steps.

Depending on what specific steps our partners will take, we will, of course, decide on our reaction,” the minister explained at a press conference.

Nord Stream 2

Following the talks, the Foreign Minister also said that he had discussed with Burbock issues related to the ongoing certification process and the upcoming commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

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  • © Tobias SCHWARZ

The minister stressed that he considers the attempts of a number of forces to politicize the project counterproductive.

“This is the largest commercial project of the last decade aimed at ensuring the energy security of Germany and Europe.

We drew the attention of our German colleagues to the counterproductiveness of attempts to politicize this project,” Lavrov stressed.

To launch Nord Stream 2, Nord Stream 2 AG needs to obtain permission from the German Federal Network Agency.

On November 16, the agency announced the suspension of Nord Stream 2 AG's certification as an independent pipeline operator.

The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that the gas pipeline is an exclusively commercial and not a political project.

Pressure on RT DE in Germany

Also during the press conference, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that he had discussed with his colleague the situation with the broadcasting of the RT DE TV channel in Germany.

Lavrov stressed that both the Russian media in Germany and the German media in Russia should work under equal, non-discriminatory conditions.

Burbock, answering a question from an RT DE journalist, said that Germany does not interfere in the broadcasting process of the TV channel, noting that it "works in Germany" and "is broadcast over the Internet."

She also stated that media representatives "have access to journalistic activities", in particular, to all government press conferences.

  • German Foreign Minister on RT DE broadcasting

“RT is always represented there.

That there is state interference is simply not true,” she said, adding that government interference in the work of the media would be contrary to the German constitution.

At the same time, Lavrov noted that Russia "has reason to believe that the German government is directly related to what is happening."

He clarified that Moscow expects specific actions from Berlin to improve the working conditions of Russian journalists in the country so that they "feel comfortable and not discriminated against."

“We do not want to create any obstacles in the way of the professional activities of German journalists in the Russian Federation, but if necessary, we will simply be forced, no matter how much we want to avoid this, to take reciprocal actions,” Lavrov said.

He stressed that attempts to restrict the broadcasting of the channel contradict not only the European Convention on Transfrontier Broadcasting, but also numerous conventions of UNESCO, the Council of Europe, as well as OSCE agreements on the inadmissibility of creating obstacles to access to information.

In addition, Timur Shafir, a representative of the Union of Journalists of Russia, said at a press conference that the UJR had given Burbock an appeal regarding the situation with the broadcasting of the TV channel.

“We, on behalf of the Union of Journalists of Russia ... have prepared an official appeal to you, we are taking this opportunity to convey this appeal to you, we hope that you will carefully consider it,” he said.

Shafir also drew attention to the danger of politicizing the issue of banning the activities of RT DE in Germany.

Recall that at the end of December, the German-language channel RT DE was removed from the platform of the European satellite operator Eutelsat 9B under pressure from the German media regulator MABB less than a week after the start of broadcasting.

Minsk agreements

Also at the talks, Sergey Lavrov discussed with his German counterpart the situation around Kiev's sabotage of the Minsk agreements.

He expressed hope that Berlin would influence Ukraine in the implementation of these agreements. 

“We pointed out to the partners that attempts to make Russia a party to the conflict are unacceptable, such attempts have been observed recently, and to shift responsibility for the lack of progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements to Russia.

We expect that the German colleagues will influence their Kiev partners so that they finally fulfill their obligations,” he stressed.

Lavrov drew attention to the fact that Moscow does not give any reasons to create "some new conflict situation."

The minister also said that he pointed out the unacceptability of the requirements regarding the actions of the Russian Armed Forces on its territory.

In particular, he recalled that the NATO countries, speaking out with demands to “remove Russian units into barracks”, at the same time declare that the movement of troops on the territory of the alliance does not concern anyone.

“The double standard is obvious,” Lavrov concluded.