Russia hopes German president's visit will boost ties

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's current visit to Moscow will strengthen ties, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

"I hope that your visit will help us to contribute to the development of our bilateral relations and to strengthening our interstate relations," Putin was quoted as saying by Russia's official TASS news agency.

Steinmeier said "alienation" in recent years between Germany and Russia should be overcome.

"For this we need to continue the dialogue. We need long-term intentions on both sides to overcome the crisis," Steinmeier said, according to TASS.

Steinmeier was on a working visit in Moscow at the invitation of Putin. The leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations and international developments, particularly the situation in Syria, as well as a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.