German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as Russia’s president, while stressing the need for continued dialogue to address key “challenges”.

“I warmly congratulate you on your re-election,” Merkel wrote in a message to the veteran Russian leader released by her office.

“Today it is more important than ever to continue the dialogue with each other and to advance the relations between our countries and our people,” she said.

Source: AFP