Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bayerischer Hof Munich, Germany

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, good evening, everyone, and it’s a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to see the vice chancellor again.  It’s quite simple for the United States:  Germany is our indispensable ally and partner.  And on virtually every single challenge we’re facing, whether it’s regional, whether it’s global, we are together.  And because of that, we’re stronger.  So, I’m looking forward to covering many of the most immediate challenges with the vice chancellor and really appreciate this opportunity to spend some time together.

Robert.

VICE CHANCELLOR HABECK:  Antony, thank you very much for having me and thanks for the opportunity to discuss the difficult situations we are having worldwide.  I’d like to start with thank you for your leadership, also the U.S., but also personal.  I think what you have done, what you’re doing to ease the situation, especially in the Middle East, is outstanding.  And looking east of Munich to Ukraine and to Russia, I mean, it’s the day Navalny died.  I remember that a leading politician of the last government told me the evening before he was going back to Moscow, she visited him and said don’t do it, it will cost you your life.  And he did it, and this is – it’s for me hard to find the right words.  It’s a tragedy, really.  But that means that we have to stay strong also, in the continuing fight helping Ukraine and that Russia not win this terrible war.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you.