"We should change our attitude toward Russia. The keys to the end of war in Syria lie in Moscow and Washington," Sigmar Gabriel said in an interview with Der Tagesspiegel newspaper.
According to him, the new escalation of the Syrian conflict could lead to new refugee flows.
"Successful negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program have shown that the unity with the help of Germany and Europe can be achieved. That’s what we should take into consideration and make new proposals on the resumption of relations with Russia," Gabriel added.
Syria has been in a state of a civil war since the start of 2011 political crisis. Government forces have been fighting on multiple fronts against opposition forces and numerous extremist militant groups, including Islamic State and the Nusra Front.
Russia has been engaged in international efforts to find a political solution to the ongoing hostilities in the Arab state, and has provided humanitarian aid to the people of the conflict-torn country.
