Key Player: 'West Won't Be Able to Cope With Global Crises Without Russia'

The Western bloc has to demonstrate to the Kremlin its willingness to engage in dialogue in order to restore trustful relations with Moscow, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in an interview with General-Anzeiger.

He also stressed that without Russia's participation, the West won't be able to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis and achieve progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

Thus, in order to restore friendly relations with Russia, Western countries, including Germany, have to "show their readiness for a dialogue" with Moscow, Steinmeier stated.

"Whether we want it or not, the reality is that without Russia we will not be able to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis or achieve any progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements on Ukraine," the politician said.

Earlier, Steinmeier expressed optimism in regard to the ceasefire agreement in Syria, reached by the US and Russia in late February.

The minister also pointed out that without Moscow the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program would not have been possible.

"This is [another] confirmation of the fact that we need Russia, if we are really interested in finding solutions," Steinmeier concluded.