Berlin is in favor of good relations with Russia, and Germany plans to discuss with European partners Moscow's decision to expel several diplomats from Germany, Poland and Sweden, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in an interview with Funke media, RIA Novosti reports.

"Russia itself chooses what kind of relations it wants to have with the rest of Europe ... We have always stressed that we do not want the thread of dialogue with Russia to be cut, and despite all the difficulties, we want good, at least reasonable relations," the German FM said.

He added that once these diplomats are expelled from Russia, Germany will discuss the next steps "in great detail" with its EU partners.

Also, Maas considered an "important signal" US President Joe Biden's statement that Washington was going to coordinate its approach to Russia with its European allies

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared as persona non grata the diplomats who took part in the unauthorized rallies in Russia. These are the diplomatic staff of the consulates general of Sweden and Poland in Saint Petersburg, and of the German embassy in Moscow. They will have to leave Russia soon.