Valdai Club

In the early hours of November 20, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) withdrew from negotiations on the formation of a coalition government in Germany. According to experts, for Angela Merkel this could mean losing the chance for a fourth term as Chancellor. Nikolai Pavlov, Professor at the Department of European and American Studies at the Moscow-based MGIMO University, Member of the Central Board of the Russia-Germany Society, commented on the events in an interview for valdaiclub.com.

The visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Russia is a reflection of the foreign policy course based on a sober assessment of the existing and medium-term realities, as well as a mathematically accurate calculation of the efficiency of the bilateral dialogue, says Valdai Club expert Nikolai Pavlov.