German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declined a Kremlin-administered COVID-19 test on a visit to Moscow on Tuesday, opt for a swab of one of The doctors of Berlin, a German government a source told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Scholz” received a test of a doctor from the German Embassy” on arrival in Moscow, the official noted on state of anonymity.
All members of the German delegation was required pass three PCR tests in the four days preceding departure. The daily Bild reported that Moscow had agreed to the exception if the PCR test was administered on by Scholz government aircraft under surveillance of a Russian doctor.
the move followed a similar decision by French President Emmanuel Macron during talks in Russia last week, prompting the Kremlin to place him at an extremely long table for his talks with Vladimir Poutine.
Scholz was seen seated with Poutine at the same table on Tuesday. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peksov, said at the time decision submitting Macron to the huge table was made after the French leader refused to take a COVID-19 test performed by Kremlin doctors.
“It’s related to the fact that some follow their rules they don’t cooperate with the host side,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we will devote a significant part of our time to issues related to the situation in Europe and security”, including Ukraine, Putin said during son opening speech at the start of the discussions with Scholz in Moscow on Tuesday.
The meeting of Scholz with Putin comes a day after traveling to Kyiv ashore up support for Ukraine during the talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“His clear that we must now talk about the difficult security situation in Europe,” said the German leader at the start of talks with Putin.
The Russian President said that energy issues also to be on Agenda.
western countries warned Moscow that they could impose sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 – a controversial pipeline set at double Provisions of Russian gas to Europe – if Russia attacks Ukraine.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Kremlin confirmed a withdrawal of some Russian forces from the borders of Ukraine, but said that the move was expected and stressed that Russia would continue to move troops across the country as he sees fit.
western countries for weeks have sounded the alarm over an accumulation of Russian troops around Ukraine and a potential invasionsaying anyone military the action would be met with heavy economic sanctions.
