© Sputnik / Michael Klimentyev
09:26 16.04.2018
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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned
of growing estrangement between the West and Russia and the dire consequences
this could have for global peace.
“Too Much at Stake”
In an interview with the newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Steinmeier discussed the deepening "alienation" between Russia and the West, particularly in the wake of the “Skripal case," but criticized attempts to demonize Russia as a nation.
“We can't declare the whole of Russia, the
country and its people, as our enemy," he said, warning there was
"too much at stake."
Steinmeier also decried the lack of trust
between Russia and the West and underscored the urgent need
to counter the paramount importance of bilateral attempts
to countering the accelerating estrangement between the two.
“First Step”
Mentioning the armed conflict in Syria,
Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that a speedy agreement between the US and
Russian presidents holds the key to a de-escalation of tensions
in the war-torn Arab country.
"Of course you can't do it without the
regional neighbors in the end, but everything begins with the US
and Russia," Steinmeier told Bild am Sonntag.
"Putin and Trump owe it to the world
to take the first step," he added.
“We Need to Maintain Dialogue”
On Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said
that despite complicated relations with Moscow, Berlin was all set
to continue a dialogue with Moscow.
“Russia has become a more complicated partner,
but we still need to maintain a dialogue,” Maas told ARD TV.
He also mentioned the importance of Russia’s
participation in the efforts to end the war in Syria.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump ordered to
"launch precision strikes on Syria" in response to an
alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma, described by Moscow and
Damascus as a false flag. The attack was joined by British and French
air forces.
More than 100 cruise and air-to-surface
missiles were launched at
"civilian and military facilities" in Syria.
Russia slammed the strikes as an "act
of aggression against a sovereign state that has been fighting
against terrorism."
The situation in Syria worsened significantly
last week amid reports about the April 7 alleged chemical attack
in the city of Duma located in the Damascus suburb
of Eastern Ghouta.
The EU and the US rushed to blame the forces
of Syrian President Bashar Assad, with Damascus refuting the
allegations. Moscow has called for a thorough investigation into the
alleged chemical attack before drawing any conclusions.
© SPUTNIK / ALEXANDER VILF
© AP PHOTO / SETH WENIG
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