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| Over Beer, Obama and Merkel Mend Ties and Double Down on Russia | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| KRÜN, Germany — President Obama sought to smooth over tensions with a crucial ally, bonding on Sunday with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany over beer, sausages and their shared determination to confront Russia over its aggression in Ukraine, as he declared her a “great friend and partner” during a summit meeting of world leaders. | KRÜN, Germany — President Obama sought to smooth over tensions with a crucial ally, bonding on Sunday with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany over beer, sausages and their shared determination to confront Russia over its aggression in Ukraine, as he declared her a “great friend and partner” during a summit meeting of world leaders. |
| Greeting Ms. Merkel with an embrace and kisses on both cheeks near Krün’s picturesque town square at the foot of the Alps, Mr. Obama emphasized the ties that connect Germans and Americans despite a troubled history. | Greeting Ms. Merkel with an embrace and kisses on both cheeks near Krün’s picturesque town square at the foot of the Alps, Mr. Obama emphasized the ties that connect Germans and Americans despite a troubled history. |
| “The fact that all of us are here together today is proof that conflicts can end, and great progress is possible,” Mr. Obama told about 800 townspeople, many of whom were wearing traditional dress. “We stand together as inseparable allies, in Europe and around the world.” | “The fact that all of us are here together today is proof that conflicts can end, and great progress is possible,” Mr. Obama told about 800 townspeople, many of whom were wearing traditional dress. “We stand together as inseparable allies, in Europe and around the world.” |
| The meeting came at the start of the Group of 7 conference Ms. Merkel is hosting at a castle and luxury resort, where the leaders of seven major industrialized nations are meeting to discuss the global economy, climate change, terrorism and as Mr. Obama said, “standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine.” | The meeting came at the start of the Group of 7 conference Ms. Merkel is hosting at a castle and luxury resort, where the leaders of seven major industrialized nations are meeting to discuss the global economy, climate change, terrorism and as Mr. Obama said, “standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine.” |
| He and Ms. Merkel agreed that economic sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine should not be lifted until a cease-fire accord there had been fully carried out and Moscow respected Ukraine’s sovereignty. The White House intensified its criticism of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia as Mr. Obama pressed for a firm commitment from Europe during the two-day gathering to preserve the sanctions, along with a broader statement of resolve to punish Russia for any further escalations in Ukraine. | He and Ms. Merkel agreed that economic sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine should not be lifted until a cease-fire accord there had been fully carried out and Moscow respected Ukraine’s sovereignty. The White House intensified its criticism of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia as Mr. Obama pressed for a firm commitment from Europe during the two-day gathering to preserve the sanctions, along with a broader statement of resolve to punish Russia for any further escalations in Ukraine. |
| Russian-backed separatists have been clashing violently with Ukrainian forces and massing heavy weaponry near the border, prompting the White House to say that the cease-fire had been violated. The escalation apparently extended offshore on Sunday into the Sea of Azov, where a Ukrainian coast guard speedboat exploded after striking a mine near the port of Mariupol. | Russian-backed separatists have been clashing violently with Ukrainian forces and massing heavy weaponry near the border, prompting the White House to say that the cease-fire had been violated. The escalation apparently extended offshore on Sunday into the Sea of Azov, where a Ukrainian coast guard speedboat exploded after striking a mine near the port of Mariupol. |
| With the European Union facing a vote this month on whether to continue the sanctions, Mr. Obama has made stiffening resolve on the issue an objective. | With the European Union facing a vote this month on whether to continue the sanctions, Mr. Obama has made stiffening resolve on the issue an objective. |
| “We think that there can be a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to this problem, but it’s going to require that Europe, the United States and the trans-Atlantic partnership, as well as the world, stay vigilant and stay focused on the importance of upholding the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Mr. Obama said during a meeting with the British prime minister, David Cameron. | “We think that there can be a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to this problem, but it’s going to require that Europe, the United States and the trans-Atlantic partnership, as well as the world, stay vigilant and stay focused on the importance of upholding the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Mr. Obama said during a meeting with the British prime minister, David Cameron. |
| The meetings unfolded after a period of strain between Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel. Though the two have an unusually close rapport and strong working relationship, their bond has been tested by complicated intelligence ties that have proved to be a political vulnerability for the chancellor. | The meetings unfolded after a period of strain between Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel. Though the two have an unusually close rapport and strong working relationship, their bond has been tested by complicated intelligence ties that have proved to be a political vulnerability for the chancellor. |
| Those strains did not prevent her from inviting Mr. Obama to tour a historic village here before the summit meeting opened, a carefully choreographed event showcasing their friendship. | Those strains did not prevent her from inviting Mr. Obama to tour a historic village here before the summit meeting opened, a carefully choreographed event showcasing their friendship. |
| “Although it is true we sometimes have differences of opinion today from time to time,” Ms. Merkel said, “the United States of America is our friend, our partner and, indeed, an essential partner.” | “Although it is true we sometimes have differences of opinion today from time to time,” Ms. Merkel said, “the United States of America is our friend, our partner and, indeed, an essential partner.” |
| Ms. Merkel is facing harsh criticism here that she is doing the bidding of the National Security Agency, after allegations surfaced in April that Germany’s foreign intelligence service was monitoring European companies and perhaps individuals at the American intelligence agency’s behest. | Ms. Merkel is facing harsh criticism here that she is doing the bidding of the National Security Agency, after allegations surfaced in April that Germany’s foreign intelligence service was monitoring European companies and perhaps individuals at the American intelligence agency’s behest. |
| The uproar is not the first time spying has become a bone of contention between Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel. In 2013, documents released by Edward J. Snowden, the former N.S.A. contractor, suggested that the agency had tapped Ms. Merkel’s personal cellphone for a decade. That practice, once revealed, was halted by the president. And last summer, tensions grew when Ms. Merkel’s government expelled the C.I.A. station chief in Germany after Berlin said it found evidence of American spies recruiting at least one German official. | The uproar is not the first time spying has become a bone of contention between Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel. In 2013, documents released by Edward J. Snowden, the former N.S.A. contractor, suggested that the agency had tapped Ms. Merkel’s personal cellphone for a decade. That practice, once revealed, was halted by the president. And last summer, tensions grew when Ms. Merkel’s government expelled the C.I.A. station chief in Germany after Berlin said it found evidence of American spies recruiting at least one German official. |
| The N.S.A. surveillance issues have “obviously cast a very dark shadow on their personal relationship,” said Julianne Smith, a former deputy national security adviser to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and now director of the Strategy and Statecraft Program at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. | The N.S.A. surveillance issues have “obviously cast a very dark shadow on their personal relationship,” said Julianne Smith, a former deputy national security adviser to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and now director of the Strategy and Statecraft Program at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. |
| But there is little doubt that Mr. Obama, who tends to prioritize strategy and shared interests over personality in his relationships with world leaders, needs Ms. Merkel, and that she needs him. Ms. Merkel has been important in rallying Europe to stay united against Russia’s interference in Ukraine, even as the economic sanctions designed to pressure Mr. Putin have placed political strain on her and many of her counterparts. | But there is little doubt that Mr. Obama, who tends to prioritize strategy and shared interests over personality in his relationships with world leaders, needs Ms. Merkel, and that she needs him. Ms. Merkel has been important in rallying Europe to stay united against Russia’s interference in Ukraine, even as the economic sanctions designed to pressure Mr. Putin have placed political strain on her and many of her counterparts. |
| “The commitment required by our European partners to implement and maintain these sanctions is significant,” said Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary. “They have economies that are more integrated with Russia than the United States has, and so we recognize that many of the countries that we’re counting on to continue to enforce these sanctions are countries who do so at some sacrifice to their own economy.” | “The commitment required by our European partners to implement and maintain these sanctions is significant,” said Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary. “They have economies that are more integrated with Russia than the United States has, and so we recognize that many of the countries that we’re counting on to continue to enforce these sanctions are countries who do so at some sacrifice to their own economy.” |
| The White House said Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel also discussed their shared support for a major trans-Atlantic trade deal; the prospect of teaming up to reach an agreement on climate change by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and countering the Sunni militant group the Islamic State. | The White House said Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel also discussed their shared support for a major trans-Atlantic trade deal; the prospect of teaming up to reach an agreement on climate change by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and countering the Sunni militant group the Islamic State. |
| “These are the priorities in our relationship,” Mr. Earnest said. | “These are the priorities in our relationship,” Mr. Earnest said. |
| During Mr. Obama’s nearly 45-minute meeting with Ms. Merkel on Sunday, neither raised the issue of N.S.A. surveillance, Mr. Earnest said, while more than half of the session was taken up with talk of Russia and Ukraine. | During Mr. Obama’s nearly 45-minute meeting with Ms. Merkel on Sunday, neither raised the issue of N.S.A. surveillance, Mr. Earnest said, while more than half of the session was taken up with talk of Russia and Ukraine. |
| “They realize that they continue to share a common agenda on Russia, on a number of fronts,” Ms. Smith said. The president “continues to reach out to her,” she said, adding, “I think they still trust each other.” | “They realize that they continue to share a common agenda on Russia, on a number of fronts,” Ms. Smith said. The president “continues to reach out to her,” she said, adding, “I think they still trust each other.” |
| At the same time, a year after the seven world powers banded together to kick Russia out of their group, the White House seemed determined to use the gathering to portray Mr. Putin as an international pariah. | At the same time, a year after the seven world powers banded together to kick Russia out of their group, the White House seemed determined to use the gathering to portray Mr. Putin as an international pariah. |
| “Russia has essentially thumbed their nose at the commitments that they made” in a cease-fire agreement with Ukraine, Mr. Earnest said, indicating that Moscow was supplying, leading, training and otherwise backing separatists in Ukraine. “Russia’s failure to live up to those commitments is what leads to their increasing isolation and the increasing costs being imposed on their economy.” | “Russia has essentially thumbed their nose at the commitments that they made” in a cease-fire agreement with Ukraine, Mr. Earnest said, indicating that Moscow was supplying, leading, training and otherwise backing separatists in Ukraine. “Russia’s failure to live up to those commitments is what leads to their increasing isolation and the increasing costs being imposed on their economy.” |
| Any disputes seemed remote on Sunday as Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel sampled local food and strolled through town greeting men wearing lederhosen and women in dirndls. The president halfheartedly asked Ms. Merkel if the meetings, which are being held at a resort nearby, could instead take place in the small alpine town’s center, over beer. | Any disputes seemed remote on Sunday as Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel sampled local food and strolled through town greeting men wearing lederhosen and women in dirndls. The president halfheartedly asked Ms. Merkel if the meetings, which are being held at a resort nearby, could instead take place in the small alpine town’s center, over beer. |
| “It was a very fine beer,” Mr. Obama said on his way out of the village. “I wish I was staying.” | “It was a very fine beer,” Mr. Obama said on his way out of the village. “I wish I was staying.” |