MOSCOW, March 16 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to visit Russia on May 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
He disclosed date of the trip at a meeting in Moscow with Horst Seehofer, Minister-President of Germany's Bavaria.
Seehofer conveyed Merkel's "cordial greetings" to Putin, who in return expressed "best wishes" to the German leader, according to an official transcript of the meeting on the Kremlin website.
Merkel will come amid prolonged spat between Russia and the European Union over issues including Crimea, conflicts in east Ukraine and increased military confrontation in Europe.
In a visit to Moscow last week, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told Putin that he hoped Merkel would have an opportunity to visit Russia.
During the meeting with Gabriel, Putin stressed the need to solve all problems Russia and Germany face and to completely normalize bilateral relations.
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