"Ms. Merkel, who speaks Russian and grew up in East Germany, has long tried to balance a deep understanding of Russia's political interests and frustrations with a skeptical view of Mr. Putin's intentions. Her knowledge of Russia and her relationship with Mr. Putin, who speaks fluent German, thanks to his time as a KGB officer in Dresden, are now being put to their most serious test yet. In her calls with Mr. Putin, some lasting as long as an hour, the two leaders switch between German and Russian as the chancellor parries the president's lengthy statements of the official Kremlin line. Ms. Merkel and Mr. Putin often speak in German, a language Mr. Putin commands well -- but Ms. Merkel confided to Mr. Hollande over a January 2013 dinner that the Russian's "soft and low voice" when speaking in her mother tongue sometimes reminded her of a "man of the Stasi," the East German secret police." - Adriano

cf. 2014-03-13, days before the Crimea referendum on separation from Ukraine... Russia holds war games near Ukraine; Merkel warns of catastrophe! http://mobile.reuters.com/article... - Adriano

Note to historians: Merkel and Hollande did absolutely *nothing* while Putin swiftly took over Crimea. Bodes very bad for the future of continental Europe. - Adriano