Merkel Is Giving Putin the Silent Treatment
German
Chancellor Angela Merkel has not spoken to Russian President Vladimir
Putin since July 20, three days after the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
crash. In their last conversation, the Wall Street Journal describes her
sentiments to Putin as "Call me if you have progress to report in
defusing the…
Merkel Is Giving Putin the Silent Treatment
By Polly Mosendz
7 hours ago
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has not spoken to Russian
President Vladimir Putin since July 20, three days after the Malaysia
Airlines Flight 17 crash. In their last conversation, the Wall Street Journal describes her sentiments to Putin as "Call me if you have progress to report in defusing the conflict." Putin has not called.
Putin, FIFA President Sepp Blatter, and Merkel watch the opening ceremony of the World Cup final. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) For a long time, it was considered that Angela Merkel could get through to Putin in a way that other leaders could not. Merkel pledged that Germany and Russia would have a "partnership for modernization." At the World Cup in Brazil, the two leaders even sat together. Between the time when the Ukraine/Russia conflict began this winter and July 20, Putin and Merkel had at least thirty known phone calls.
Some have speculated that Germany and Russia had been negotiating a secret "land for gas" deal that fell apart after the MH17 crash, which could have led to this silent treatment. The deal would have Germany recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, and in exchange, Russia would create stable, cheaper gas supplies to Ukraine. The alleged deal was being brokered by Merkel between Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. A German government spokesperson has shot down reports of this deal, saying "The report has no basis," and it remains unconfirmed.
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Putin, FIFA President Sepp Blatter, and Merkel watch the opening ceremony of the World Cup final. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) For a long time, it was considered that Angela Merkel could get through to Putin in a way that other leaders could not. Merkel pledged that Germany and Russia would have a "partnership for modernization." At the World Cup in Brazil, the two leaders even sat together. Between the time when the Ukraine/Russia conflict began this winter and July 20, Putin and Merkel had at least thirty known phone calls.
Some have speculated that Germany and Russia had been negotiating a secret "land for gas" deal that fell apart after the MH17 crash, which could have led to this silent treatment. The deal would have Germany recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, and in exchange, Russia would create stable, cheaper gas supplies to Ukraine. The alleged deal was being brokered by Merkel between Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. A German government spokesperson has shot down reports of this deal, saying "The report has no basis," and it remains unconfirmed.
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Merkel has moved even further
away from Putin this week, as she joined the European Union's plan to
issue further sanctions against Russia. These sanctions will strike
Russia's banking, exporting and energy sectors, though not natural gas, as Europe heavily relies on Russia for this resource.
This article was originally published at http://www.thewire.com/business/2014/07/merkel-is-giving-putin-the-silent-treatment/375414/
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