Merkel travels to Russia to meet with Putin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting Tuesday in Russia, CNN reported.

Merkel traveled to Sochi to meet with Putin, where the two are hosting a joint press conference, for the German leader’s first visit to the country since 2015.

{mosads}The leaders are expected to discuss the sanctions that have been in place against the Kremlin over its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The sanctions, imposed by the European Union, are up for renewal this summer.

Russia and Germany have also been at odds over the Syrian civil war. Putin supports the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Merkel has said Assad must go. 

Merkel traveled to the United States in March to meet with President Trump.