Are Putin and Merkel allies or enemies?

[buritobr]

Vladmir Putin and Angela Merkel are the two most powerful leaders in Europe. They are also the leaders who were in the power in Europe for the longest period.
How can we describe the relation between them?

[Clyde1998]

I'd say neither. It appears that Putin has a better relationship with Merkel than he has with most western leaders though.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

They are not enemies, but they aren't friends either.
Today Merkel and Putin are meeting today in order to discuss the construction of the gas pipeline Nordstream 2, which is to pass the Ukraine. The USA isn't amused about that project and wishes that it shouldn't come into existence.

Fun fact: Merkel and Putin can have a conversation in each other's language; Putin because of his stay in Dresden as a KGB agent in the 80s, and Merkel because the pupils (or as you say: students) in the GDR were taught Russian instead of English.
I think they are the only two non-anglophone leaders who speak the interlocutor's language fluently.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Germany is the most Russia friendly of the powerful NATO nations. I think Merkel is wary of him, but not threatened in the same way other leaders are.

[Lechasseur]

Neither

[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

Neither, there are some certain points in which Germany under Merkel and Russia have the same interests (for example NS2), there were periods when cooperation was better than now but generally lists of common interests is short. But also there are no major conflicts as for now.

[President Johnson]

I'd say neither. It appears that Putin has a better relationship with Merkel than he has with most western leaders though.

This. The language also plays a role here, as she speaks Russian and he German.