Putin spoke about Helmut Kohl's views on the future of Europe and relations with Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 11 that former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl's views on the future of Europe differed from the position of the current German leadership.

"I have heard the current authorities in Germany saying that they are following the course of the former German leadership, including mentioning the name of Helmut Kohl. I was familiar with Kohl, and I can firmly assert that he did not have the views held by the current leadership of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union of Germany. — Ed.)," Putin told reporters.

According to the Russian leader, Kohl believed that the development of Europe and Germany was possible only if close and good-neighborly relations with Russia were maintained. According to Kohl, Putin continued, only in this case will European civilization "be able to remain as an independent center of intellectual and humanitarian power," which, in turn, will entail consequences in both the political and economic spheres.

"There really is a demand for change in Germany"

Bundestag deputy Matthias Moosdorf — on the reasons for discontent with Merz, the alliance with the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt and ways to restore ties with the Russian Federation

On September 1, Putin expressed hope that the crisis in relations between Russia and Europe would one day pass. At the same time, he noted that even after the normalization of relations with European countries, difficulties may arise related to the entry of European goods and services into the Russian market through Armenia.