Dialogue with Moscow should continue despite disagreements â Merkel BERLIN, February 5. /TASS/. Dialogue with Russia should not be interrupted over current differences, including over blogger Alexey Navalny’s case, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday at a video call with French President Emmanuel Macron after a virtual meeting of the Franco-German Defense and Security Council. "Despite all the differences, it is strategically imperative to maintain dialogue with Russia on many geostrategic issues," she said recalling that cooperation was required to find solutions, including in Ukraine and Libya. Merkel spoke amid tensions with Russia over the situation involving Alexey Navalny and the expulsion of three diplomats from Russia.