Abu Dhabi hosts covert talks between former German politicians and Kremlin figures, reports "Die Zeit"

According to the Polish independent portal Oko.press, citing the German weekly "Die Zeit," former German politicians and lobbyists held a secret meeting with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in early November.

Secret talks at the luxury Bab al-Qasr hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, brought together former German politicians and sanctioned Kremlin officials to continue the informal “Petersburg Dialogue,” according to the German weekly "Die Zeit".

Photo: Google Maps

The meeting took place at the luxury Bab al-Qasr hotel, as reported by Die Zeit.

German participants included ex-Chancellor’s Office head Ronald Pofalla, German-Russian Forum president Martin Hoffmann, and former SPD leader Matthias Platzek.

Russian attendees included sanctioned figures such as Gazprom supervisory board chair Viktor Zubkov and Putin’s human rights envoy Valery Fadeev.

Putin’s cultural envoy Mikhail Shvydkoy had been expected but cancelled at the last moment.

Former German politicians meet Kremlin officials in Abu Dhabi

The discussions were unofficial. The participants did not represent the German government. They reportedly agreed on reciprocal visits: Pofalla and Hoffmann to Moscow, and Szwydkoy to Germany, with approval from Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

The meetings continue the “Petersburg Dialogue,” a forum started in 2001 by Vladimir Putin and then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

It aimed to strengthen German-Russian political and business ties. Chancellor Angela Merkel officially suspended the forum in 2021, but informal contacts have continued, including previous meetings in Baku.

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Source: OKO.press/Die Zeit