Germany: "We need Russia as a partner" and want their return to G8 - Steinmeier

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier assured that they "need Russia as a constructive partner" in several international conflicts, during a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin on Thursday in Berlin. Steinmeier expressed his hope that "Russia contributes and helps to get back to the old G8 format" but outlined that this will only be possible "by the implementation of the Minsk agreement." Steinmeier recognized that the truce in Ukraine is "fragile" and that "its constant violation could lead to a new military escalation situation that we actually thought we already overcame." The FM also stressed that this has to be avoided.