"Peace and security in Europe can only be maintained through continued cooperation between Russia and Germany, but also between the European Union and Russia," Wolfgang Gehrcke, vice chair of the faction Die Linke in the Bundestag, said.
He recalled a remark made by former chancellor of West Germany, Willy Brandt, who once said it was impossible to build security in Europe without Russia or against Russia.
Gehrcke stressed it was a big mistake to push Ukraine into a choice between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, which is a Russia-led alternative to the Eurozone, "as though Russia has nothing to do with Europe."
"Even rationally speaking, Russia is a major neighbor with a huge potential, which can be useful for everyone," Gehrcke said.
Last year, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had never called Kiev's right to a partnership with the European Union into question, rather it was worried about threats to its own economy.
