Merkel ally warns SPD against own diplomacy towards Russia

BERLIN (Reuters) - A senior ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned the foreign minister and his fellow Social Democrats (SPD) against pursuing a more friendly approach towards Russia in the Ukraine crisis, according to Spiegel magazine.

"I know Mr (Frank-Walter) Steinmeier as a sensible diplomat. And we also need the dialogue with Russia," Horst Seehofer, leader of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), was quoted as saying in an interview published on Saturday.