Chancellor Scholz Rejects Russia's COVID-19 Test, Talks With President Putin Separated By Long Table

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. (Source: Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - The German chancellor refused a COVID-19 test while visiting Moscow to meet with the Russian President, but did not prevent the two leaders from discussing the situation on the Ukrainian border that caught the world's attention.

A German government source told AFP Chancellor Olaf Scholz received a COVID-19 test from a German embassy doctor upon arrival in Moscow on Tuesday.

All members of the German delegation are required to undergo three PCR tests within four days before departure. Meanwhile, the Bild daily reported that Moscow had approved an exception if the PCR test was carried out on a Scholz Government plane, under the supervision of a Russian doctor.

The move follows a similar decision by French President Emmanuel Macron during talks in Russia last week, over concerns over the theft of the president's DNA.

By choosing to carry out their own COVID-19 tests, the Kremlin placed a very long table, separating President Putin from Chancellor Scholz by six meters. The table used in this meeting is the same as last week's meeting.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the time the decision to put President Macron to the big table was made after the French leader refused to take COVID-19 tests administered by Kremlin medics.

"It has to do with the fact that some are following their own rules, they are not cooperating with the hosts," he said.

However, this did not prevent the two leaders from having intense talks about the current situation, especially the crisis on the Ukrainian border.

"Unfortunately, we will devote most of our time to issues related to the situation in Europe and security, including Ukraine," Putin said.

Chancellor Scholz's meeting with President Putin came a day after he traveled to Kyiv, to shore up support for Ukraine during talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

"It is clear that we now have to talk about the difficult situation regarding security in Europe," the German Chancellor said.

On the same occasion, President Putin said that energy issues were also on the agenda. Western countries have warned Moscow that they could impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2, a pipeline set to double Russia's gas supplies to Europe, if Russia attacks Ukraine.

To note, the Kremlin early Tuesday confirmed the withdrawal of some Russian troops from the Ukrainian border, but said the move was premeditated and stressed Russia would continue to move troops across the country as it wishes.

Meanwhile, Western powers have been sounding the alarm for weeks over the buildup of Russian troops around Ukraine and a possible invasion, saying any military action would be met with heavy economic penalties.