Merkel urges Putin to free Navalny, extend gas deal with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel enter a hall during a news conference following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia August 20, 2021. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Russian President Vladimir Putin after talks in Moscow on Friday to release Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and to extend a gas transit deal with Ukraine that expires in 2024.

"I have demanded once again from the president to release Navalny and I have made it clear that we will remain on the case," Merkel said. "We also spoke about the transit deal with Ukraine, which could and should be extended beyond 2024."