Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock at a press conference following the talksBERLIN, Jan 18The head of the German-Russian Forum, former Prime Minister of Brandenburg Matthias Platzek, called the meeting between Russian and German Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Annalena Burbock «good»: the conversation was serious, points for further development were found. «It was, of course, a difficult visit, very saturated from a media point of view, one might say, overloaded for Ms. Burbock. I got the impression that both (the ministers) found a level, I mean, the worlds touched a little there. Sergey Lavrov «survived» several German foreign ministers, for it was Mrs. Burbock's first visit there. There was a feeling that the conversation was serious, that points were found from which to lay down further development, first of all … that the Norman format should be refilled with life. I listened very carefully to Mrs. Burbock, as she said that Russian security needs should be heard and there should be a serious debate … In the end … it was a good meeting, «- Placek said live on N24 TV channel.NATO Secretary General reacted to the talks between the Russian and German Foreign MinistersAccording to the head of the German-Russian Forum, the issue of continuing work in the Normandy format on the Ukrainian settlement was raised at the ministerial talks, «and both sides, although Mr. Lavrov and more cautiously, said they want to restart it.» Placek believes that if the members of the Normandy Four, which includes Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine, could «find a solution that would have a future and regulation that would be retained» for Donbass, then this would be «a big victory for the entire European security, from France to the Urals. «Earlier, talks were held in Moscow between Russian and German Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov and Annalena Burbock. In a press statement before the meeting, Burbock said she intended to discuss, among other things, topics that «cast a shadow» on relations between the countries. Lavrov said that he would like to see a more constructive state of Russian-German relations, in Moscow they are aimed «at overcoming the accumulated problems.» One of the main topics at the talks was the settlement in Ukraine and the draft agreement proposed by Russia with NATO on security guarantees. This was the first personal meeting between the Russian and German foreign ministers since the formation of the new German government at the end of last year. Following the talks, the German media emphasized that the talks continued longer than planned. At a press conference following the meeting, Lavrov called the talks very useful, according to him, the discussion showed that despite the contradictions, Moscow and Berlin can move forward in developing relations. In Berlin, they are ready to conduct a serious dialogue with Russia on mutual security steps, Annalena Burbock, in turn, told reporters. She stressed that Berlin and Moscow will continue to discuss how to return to the Normandy format negotiating table. Germany brought to the peoples of the USSR
