German Chancellor Angela Merkel- The New Indian Express

By AFP

BERLIN: Meetings between the US and Russian presidents should become the "normality", German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday, adding that it is "good for all" that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin plan new talks.

"That talks are held for all, in particular between these two countries," Merkel said. "Trump is planning to host" (19659003) Trump is planning to host Trump is planning to host Trump is planning to host has come under fire following the march of the Russian Federation in the history of the Russian Federation and the … (19659003) The talks in the Finnish Capital was closed-door and no one else but goal interpreters.

The US president on Thursday listed the topics discussed "stopping terrorism, security for Israel, nuclear proliferation, cyber attacks, trade, Ukraine, Middle East peace, North Korea and more. "

Putin was last invited to the White House in 2005 by then-president George W. Bush, while train Russian president Dmitry Medvedev visited in 2010.

Pressed by reporters on how she views her relationship with Trump in light of his repeated criticism of Germany's asylum policies, defense spending and trade surpluses, a diplomatic Merkel stressed the importance of transatlantic cooperation. 19659003] Ties at the moment are "under strong pressure", she acknowledged.

"Nevertheless the transatlantic working relationship, also with the US president, is central to us and I will continue to maintain it."

The European Union chief Jean-Claude Juncker's visit to Washington, DC (19659003) Merkel said the European Union was "ready" to respond if Trump makes good on his threat to slap steep tariffs on foreign cars, a move that would hit Germany's auto industry particularly hard.

But tit-for-tat retaliation would be "by far the worst-possibl e solution ", Merkel warned, describing the current trade tensions as" very serious ".

The potential car tariffs would not be just violating the rules of the World Trade Organization, she added, but could also endanger the prosperity of many people around the world ".