Tough talking as Russia and Germany tackle trade, energy and Iran

Iran’s nuclear ambitions are likely to arise during two days of talks between Russia and Germany. Both leaders have already stressed they are against the Islamic state becoming a nuclear power.

During their annual get together, this time in the Siberian city of Tomsk,Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Vladimir Putin will also focus on commerce and energy.

With bilateral trade rising year-on-year by around 38 per cent, Germany is Russia’s biggest trade-partner.

And German investment in the Russian economy has been growing steadily, reaching the heady heights of two-and-half billion euros last year.

Energy security is a priority which Russia has already declared as one of the three main issues of its current G8 presidency.

But Europe is seeking reassurances over the reliability of the Russian energy giant Gazprom after it cut its production in a disagreement with Ukraine earlier this year.

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