YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. US President Barack Obama called Russia as an influential military superpower, reports TASS.

“My stance towards Russian hasn’t changed from the very start of my presidency. Russia is an important country, it’s a military superpower, it has an influence in the region and the world”, Obama said in a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on November 17.

He said the constructive cooperation with Moscow is in the interests of Washington, however, currently there are “objective differences” in the mutual relations of the two countries.

During the meeting Obama and Merkel discussed the maintenance of anti-Russian sanctions. “We have discussed the importance of maintaining the sanctions unless Russia will fulfill the obligations set by the Minsk agreements”, Obama said.

The sides also discussed the Syrian issue. Barack Obama said the talks are the only way for being out of the Syrian crisis.