Shuvalov held a speech on Russia’s energy policies before the press in Germany’s capital as well as representatives of the Russian and international media. Shuvalov explained the restructuring of Russia’s energy assets through the construction of new nuclear power plants and the greater use of alternative energies. At the same time, he assured his listeners that the Russian Federation would always fulfil its contractual obligations in its exports of gas and oil.

State Secretary Dr. Bernd Pfaffenbach, Chancellor Merkel’s Liaison Officer for the world summit of G8 nations, agreed that energy policies were a very important topic in German-Russian relations. However, he also noted that educational and research policies as well as protection against infectious illnesses had gained in importance most recently in the bilateral discussions. The Russian Federation’s communications policies in connection with the shut down of the Druzhba pipeline was an important topic in the discussion with journalists.