German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a news conference in Berlin, Germany, June 18, 2019. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
BERLIN (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed that he is aware of Germany's demand that Ukraine continues to transport gas to Europe after the opening of the Nordstream 2 pipeline, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday.
"I have repeatedly said to the Russian president that for me the issue of Ukraine being a transit country for gas is essential, so very, very important and President Putin has always stressed to me that he understands that," she said at a news conference with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
