Vladimir Putin stressed that Russian-German cooperation is of great importance not only for the peoples of both countries, but also for the rest of Europe.
In his message to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Russian President referred to the significant cooperation between the two countries in various areas and expressed the hope of continuing joint work on bilateral and international agendas this year, in particular the successful implementation of large joint projects in business, culture, science and education.
In a letter to US President Donald Trump, Putin emphasized that relations between Russia and the US were the most important factor in ensuring strategic stability and international security, and reiterated that Russia was open to dialogue with the United States.
On October 20, 2018 Trump announced the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty, because Russia allegedly violated the content. The treaty provided for the destruction of all medium-range and shorter-range land-based missiles. Russia in turn accused the US of breaking the treaty by maintaining missile bases in Romania and Poland.
Vladimir Putin also addressed a message to the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar al-Assad, in which he stressed that Russia continues to provide the government and the Syrian people with comprehensive support in the fight against terrorism and efforts to protect state sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Russian President wished the Syrian people the earliest possible return to a peaceful and prosperous life.
Trump proclaimed victory over the Islamic State on 19 December, annaouncing the withdrawal of US troops from Syria. He then had to defend his decision against sharp criticism from his own camp as well as the media.
Putin also sent greetings to the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping. “The comprehensive trusted partnership and strategic interaction between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China has reached an unprecedented level,” the message noted.
The Russian President emphasized the existence of an ongoing substantive political dialogue, the dynamic growth of bilateral trade, the successful start of years of mutual cooperation between the regions and the good results in coordinating the efforts of Moscow and Beijing to solve important regional and global issues.