Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made an attempt on Wednesday to get the normalization dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo going again after almost a year.
To this end, Scholz first met with Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and later a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was to follow.
The two politicians were then to meet at an informal dinner.
After his meeting with Kurti, Scholz announced that the EU representative for the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajčák, who mediates in the dialogue between the two countries, should also be present.
Serbia has so far refused to recognize the independence of its former province of Kosovo, which was announced in 2008.
Russia is Serbia's most important ally.
Markus Wehner
Political correspondent in Berlin.
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Scholz said after the meeting with Kurti that it deserves "great recognition" that the Western Balkan countries are supporting sanctions against Russia over the war of aggression in Ukraine.
He continued to advocate for these countries to become members of the EU.
He therefore encourages Serbia and Kosovo to engage in constructive negotiations in order to conclude a comprehensive agreement that will contribute to the stability of both states and the region.
This is important “particularly in times of war”.
The EU brokered the normalization dialogue that began in 2011.
The most important success was the Brussels agreement of 2013, which was not fully implemented.
Before the talks with Scholz, Serbian President Vučić reiterated that Belgrade condemned Russia's war.
"It was surprising for many that we clearly said that the war in Ukraine is a breach of international law," Vučić told Handelsblatt.
However, no one in Moscow is impressed whether Serbia joins the sanctions or not.
Belgrade does not want a complete break with Russia.
However, his country is "not a submarine and not a puppet" of Russia, said Vučić.
He continues to rely on the help of the federal government for his country's accession to the EU.
The Serbian government is "clearly on our EU path"