Merkel, Putin to discuss joint projects, Syria, Ukraine in Germany on Saturday

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will discuss the implementation of joint projects, taking due account of economic challenges from third-party countries at a meeting in Germany on August 18, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. The work on large-scale joint commercial projects amid threats from third-party countries regarding these projects and the most relevant issues, including Ukraine and Syria, will be on the agenda, he said. Before the talks, Putin will pay a private visit to Austria on Saturday to attend the wedding of that country’s top diplomat Karin Kneissl, TASS quoted the spokesman as saying.