02:29Germany: Obama hopes Trump 'is willing to stand up to Russia'
US President Barack Obama said he hopes the President-elect, Donald Trump, will "stand up to" Russia "where they are deviating from our values and international norms," at a press conference in Berlin on Thursday.
Obama also berated Russia's standpoint on both Syria and Ukraine, stating that "on Syria, it's clear that the indiscriminate attacks on civilians by the Assad regime and Russia will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe."
Merkel echoed Obama's sentiments on Ukraine and Crimea, stating that; "we [Germany and the US] worked very closely together on the [issue of the] annexation of Crimea."
The visit to Germany is part of Obama's final scheduled international trip as president, before the newly elected Republican Donald Trump takes over the role. Before his departure from Washington D.C. the US president attempted to reassure European leaders, saying that Trump had voiced interest in continuing the nation's strategic relationships with its allies.
Obama's visit to Germany follows a two-day trip to Athens. Peru will be his final stop for meetings, where he is scheduled to meet with Pacific Rim powers at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
02:29US President Barack Obama said he hopes the President-elect, Donald Trump, will "stand up to" Russia "where they are deviating from our values and international norms," at a press conference in Berlin on Thursday.
Obama also berated Russia's standpoint on both Syria and Ukraine, stating that "on Syria, it's clear that the indiscriminate attacks on civilians by the Assad regime and Russia will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe."
Merkel echoed Obama's sentiments on Ukraine and Crimea, stating that; "we [Germany and the US] worked very closely together on the [issue of the] annexation of Crimea."
The visit to Germany is part of Obama's final scheduled international trip as president, before the newly elected Republican Donald Trump takes over the role. Before his departure from Washington D.C. the US president attempted to reassure European leaders, saying that Trump had voiced interest in continuing the nation's strategic relationships with its allies.
Obama's visit to Germany follows a two-day trip to Athens. Peru will be his final stop for meetings, where he is scheduled to meet with Pacific Rim powers at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.