You're reading: Merkel: Trade union with Russia in EU’s interest

BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel says she supports the Russian prime minister's proposal of a free-trade zone between his country and the European Union — with certain conditions.

Merkel said Thursday a free-trade zone as suggested by Vladimir Putin in a German newspaper interview would be in Europe’s own interest.

She says: "Of course we support the idea of a free-trade zone between Russia and Europe."

But the leader of Europe’s biggest economy says Russia must first complete its adhesion to the World Trade Organization and cautioned that the country’s latest moves are not favoring a free- trade zone, pointing to Russia’s recent trade agreements with Belarus and Kazakhstan.