MOSCOW/BERLIN (Sputnik) – As part of his visit, Ulyukaev said he discussed the "general framework" of Russia’s relations with German businesses, including a joint working group, a business platform, as well as business-to-business and government-to-business forms of dialogue.
"We still intend to cooperate in the field of energy," Ulyukaev told reporters after meeting Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel.
Ulyukaev also forecast a potential easing of anti-Russia sanctions imposed by Western countries and Russian countermeasures by mid-2016, citing sanctions fatigue experienced by EU member states and businesses.
"These are thing you cannot do unilaterally…Everyone is ready in principle. Like a supersaturated solution, you throw in a crystal…and the saturated solution is ready for dialogue," the minister observed.
Russia's energy cooperation with Germany centers around the proposed Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, aiming to deliver up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas to Germany.