“Excellent respect”: That’s what it says in Prime Minister Kretschmer’s letters to Putin

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Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin (r) and Saxony chief Michael Kretschmer at their meeting in Saint Petersburg in 2019: A “big” and “special” honor

Photo: Alexei Nikolsky / Sputnik Kremlin / AP / dpa

Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has always tried to ensure an open channel of communication with Russia.

When the Russian army attacked Ukraine, after a few months he suggested "freezing" the war in order to obtain necessary raw material supplies from Russia again.

He later criticized the supply of German tanks to the Ukrainian army.

And just a few weeks ago, the CDU politician suggested Kiev accept temporary territorial renunciations to the Russians.

However, critical tones towards the Russian aggressor were rare in the last two years of the war.

On the contrary: Kretschmer's letters to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, which have now become known, show how much the Prime Minister flattered the Russian President in the past.

The news site “t-online” has two letters that Kretschmer sent after meetings with Putin in 2019 and 2021.

There are therefore no critical tones about the Russian invasion or the regime's dealings with opposition members in the letters.

But there are a lot of flattering words.

Putin is described as "Your Excellency," meeting with him is a "great" and "special" honor, and farewell is given with "excellent respect."

“Saxony and Russia have always been connected to one another in a special way,” says the first letter following the conversation in St. Petersburg in 2019. “Even in difficult times,” contacts have always been maintained.

"Even now, the Free State of Saxony is interested in an open, constructive dialogue and close cooperation with the Russian Federation." Kretschmer hopes for contracts between Saxon and Russian companies and concludes with an invitation to Putin: "It would be a great pleasure for me, you We would like to welcome you to the Free State of Saxony on one of your future visits to Germany.«

"It would be a great honor for me, Your Excellency"

The second letter after Kretschmer's second trip to Russia in 2021 reads similarly flattering. Kretschmer was visiting Moscow, but was not allowed to meet Putin - and was only fobbed off with a phone call.

Accordingly, he thanked her in the letter for the “stimulating conversation” on the phone.

He further emphasized the strength of the Saxon-Russian friendship and invited Putin again to Dresden.

The occasion is an art exhibition: “It would be a great honor for me to be able to welcome you, Your Excellency, to Saxony on this occasion.”

According to his own statements in the past, Kretschmer always raised critical points in his discussions with Putin.

He denies any appropriation by the Kremlin.

In the CDU, however, Kretschmer is largely alone with the Russophile course.

Putin is very close to Dresden - even if he has not yet accepted Kretschmer's invitations.

The Kremlin boss was a simple KGB agent in the GDR, stationed in what is now the state capital of Saxony from 1985 to 1990.

This Saturday marks the second anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It is difficult to reliably determine the exact number of victims.

In August 2023, the New York Times quoted US intelligence officials who estimated Ukraine's military losses at 70,000 dead and between 100,000 and 200,000 injured.

According to the same source, 120,000 soldiers were killed and 170,000 to 180,000 injured on the Russian side.