BERLIN — The personal relationship between Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is often boiled down to certain anecdotes: her put-downs about his role in the K.G.B., his attempts to rattle her by bringing his large black Labrador to a meeting, knowing her fear of dogs.

But the two countries’ long history of alienation and rapprochement was also at play when Ms. Merkel and Mr. Putin met for three and a half hours on Saturday at the German government’s villa in Meseberg, outside Berlin. It was their second meeting in three months.

The two leaders concluded the talks without issuing statements. Before the meeting began, they told reporters that bringing stability to eastern Ukraine and Syria and addressing the future of the Iran nuclear deal were the top issues on their agenda.

Analysts had viewed the meeting as a chance to put relations between Berlin and Moscow on more pragmatic ground after years of increasing tensions. Mr. Putin seemed to suggest the same in his comments beforehand, saying in particular that he wanted Germany’s help in rebuilding Syria’s infrastructure so refugees could return to the devastated country.