After Merkel-Trump Meeting: More Differences in Trade and Climate Issues

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that positions on international trade and climate protection continued to diverge on Thursday following a meeting in Hamburg between Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump.

Sigmar Gabriel and the head of American diplomacy, Rex Tillerson, participated in the conversation between the leaders of Germany and the United States.

In cases related to hot spots in the world, the situation in the Persian Gulf, Syria, North Korea or the crisis in Ukraine - “We have a lot in common,” Gabriel said.

“The conversation took place in a friendly and open atmosphere. It was a real discussion, ”said the head of German diplomacy. He noted that it remains unclear whether Americans are still convinced that the only criterion in world trade is the need for everyone to follow the same fair rules, then all this will benefit America.

Gabriel criticized the fact that the richest nation talks too much about weapons and too little about how to help the poorest.

Referring to Trump's planned meeting with Putin, Gabriel expressed hope that both politicians will make progress on issues related to Syria and Ukraine.

According to Gabriel, the Russian authorities are "gradually realizing" that they have only one reliable partner, and that is Europe and Germany. “America is far away, China does not consider Russia as an equal partner, so Russia, in my opinion, is returning to Europe again,” the German politician noted.

"We want to cooperate with Russia, but on condition that eventually there is a ceasefire in Ukraine." "If this happens, we will be able to open Russia and we will be able to begin the gradual lifting of sanctions," said the head of German diplomacy. He added that, according to him, Putin is ready to consider this topic.