Between 2024 and 2025, secret diplomatic meetings took place in Baku and Abu Dhabi, writes The Times.

It is noted that these meetings were aimed at quietly restoring ties with individuals connected to the Kremlin after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The German delegation included Ronald Pofalla (former head of Angela Merkel’s office) and Matthias Platzeck (former minister-president of the state of Brandenburg).

The Russian delegation included, among others, Valery Fadeev, head of the Russian president’s council for the development of civil society and human rights.

The German government firmly distanced itself from these secret talks, clarifying that they were purely private initiatives organized without state involvement or official authorization.