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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'No Russian thaw under Medvedev' | 'No Russian thaw under Medvedev' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| President Vladimir Putin has warned that relations between Russia and the West will not be any simpler under his successor Dmitry Medvedev. | President Vladimir Putin has warned that relations between Russia and the West will not be any simpler under his successor Dmitry Medvedev. |
| "I do not think our partners will have it easier with Medvedev," Mr Putin was quoted as saying. | "I do not think our partners will have it easier with Medvedev," Mr Putin was quoted as saying. |
| The outgoing Russian president made the comments after talks in Moscow with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. | The outgoing Russian president made the comments after talks in Moscow with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| Mr Medvedev, who was elected in a landslide victory earlier this month, will take over as president in May. | Mr Medvedev, who was elected in a landslide victory earlier this month, will take over as president in May. |
| Course unchanged | Course unchanged |
| Mrs Merkel said that relations with Moscow were always a joy, but "sometimes a challenge". | |
| However, she insisted that despite past tensions there must be co-operation between Moscow and the countries of the European Union: | However, she insisted that despite past tensions there must be co-operation between Moscow and the countries of the European Union: |
| "Germany and Russia, Europe and Russia, are interdependent. We must find a way to go forward together. There are many things to do," Mrs Merkel said. | "Germany and Russia, Europe and Russia, are interdependent. We must find a way to go forward together. There are many things to do," Mrs Merkel said. |
| Their talks are expected to focus on the issue of Kosovo's independence, energy and Russia's presidential poll, which opposition groups and independent election monitors have said was not a free and fair election. | Their talks are expected to focus on the issue of Kosovo's independence, energy and Russia's presidential poll, which opposition groups and independent election monitors have said was not a free and fair election. |
| Later on Saturday Mrs Merkel will become the first Western leader to meet Mr Medvedev since his controversial win. | Later on Saturday Mrs Merkel will become the first Western leader to meet Mr Medvedev since his controversial win. |
| Mr Medvedev has vowed to continue the course of his predecessor, saying that he hoped to work in an "effective tandem" with Mr Putin as his prime minister. | Mr Medvedev has vowed to continue the course of his predecessor, saying that he hoped to work in an "effective tandem" with Mr Putin as his prime minister. |