MOSCOW, December 31 (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has wished German Chancellor Angela Merkel a happy new year and expressed his hope that the two countries will boost their cooperation in 2015, the Kremlin said Wednesday.
"There is a hope that in the upcoming year, Russia and Germany will continue the dialogue aiming to strengthen cooperation between the two countries and find a solution for the most topical issues on the international agenda," the statement reads.
Relations between the two countries have long been seen as a strategic partnership, despite the fact that Germany was among countries that imposed sanctions on Russia over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.
Germany's actions toward Russia have been opposed by a number of German politicians, businessmen and public figures. In late November, Merkel stressed that anti-Russia sanctions would only be lifted if a solution to the Ukrainian crisis was found.
