Merkel and Putin Discussed Gas Transit and Normandy Format

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel had a telephone conversation, Federal Government reports. They stressed the need to speed up negotiations on future gas transit contracts. Also Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel pointed out the importance of making serious preparations for a potential Normandy format summit. Also in the conversation, they touched upon the situation in Libya and Syria, in particular, the work of UN special envoys in these countries aimed at overcoming conflicts. The two leaders expressed their concerted desire to facilitate a peaceful settlement of the Libyan and Syrian crises and to continue supporting UN mediation in these countries towards this end. We remind that the U.S. is opposed to the construction of the Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 which is to reduce gas transit through Ukraine. The pipe will be laid from the Russian Federation and will pass through the territory of Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. In July, the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations voted to impose sanctions on participating companies in the pipeline laying. Kommersant