Merkel Says Russia Worked 'Constructively' on Syria at U.N.

Russia has worked "constructively" on the Syria crisis at the U.N. Security Council, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday, a day before she hosts talks with the Russian president.

"Russia has cooperated constructively in the U.N. Security Council," Merkel told a press conference in the German town of Stralsund at the end of a Baltic Sea summit of heads of government from 11 countries.

"There were always times when we said 'we want to go further' but I think that we have to a certain extent common ground when it's a question of ensuring human rights and finally ending these terrible human rights violations," she said.

"It's a catastrophe that is taking place in Syria and we will do everything to ease the suffering of the people," she added.

Merkel said she would "of course" discuss Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his planned visit to Berlin Friday but said she would not voice her expectations of the meeting beforehand.

Putin is due to make his first trip to Germany on Friday since returning to the Kremlin before travelling on to Paris.