Russia and Ukraine should as quickly as possible find a sustainable compromise which does not affect gas deliveries to Europe.

The German government expects from Russia and Ukraine that the bilateral negotiations between the two countries about gas deliveries to Ukraine should not lead to the curtailing of gas provisions in Europe.

If Russia and China back Iran on the compromise option [the joint venture], then the issue will not be pushed on to the UN Security Council without consent from Moscow and Beijing.

This is certainly not traditional British courtesy.

The fundamentals of German policy on the Middle East remain firm.

We have to use existing contacts to contribute to de-escalation.