OREANDA-NEWS. Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.

The President assessed highly the victory scored by Ms Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU)-Christian Social Union bloc in the parliamentary elections and wished her success in forming a coalition government.

Both leaders emphasised the importance of continuing to develop the Russian-German strategic partnership.

Mr Putin and Ms Merkel also discussed issues on the international and bilateral agendas and agreed to hold a new round of top-level interstate consultations once Germany forms its new federal government.