Germany - USA: The time has come. We do not need sanctions against the Russian Federation
US-initiated anti-Russian sanctions have a very negative effect on the economy European countries. This is well understood not only by opposition European policy, but also the current government. Another thing is that abandoning the pro-American course is not so simple - the dependence of modern Europe on the United States is too high. But some countries, including those closely connected with Washington, nevertheless decide to go against the White House line.
Germany is going to formally appeal to the United States in order to obtain permission to abandon anti-Russian sanctions. This question will be discussed with representatives of the American leadership by the Minister of Finance of Germany Olaf Scholz. It is possible that at the end of April, when Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with President Trump, the head of the German government will touch upon the issue of relations with Russia in their economic field.
Criticism of anti-Russian sanctions does not come from German ministers themselves, but from influential representatives of big business. German entrepreneurs are tired of suffering multimillion-dollar losses from poor relations with Russia. Businessmen demand that the government intervene and become a defender of the interests of German business, not the United States. Merkel is required that all anti-Russian sanctions affecting business interests be lifted. After all, the losses are really colossal. Now the sanctions have affected those Russian companies with which the giants of the German economy work closely - Siemens, Daimler and Volkswagen. Their leaders fear that losses will amount to hundreds of millions of euros.
It should be noted that, despite the policy of sanctions, German companies continue to trade with Russia very actively. The trade turnover between the two countries grew by 11 billion - up to 54,5 billion euros in 2017. Naturally, German businessmen do not want to lose such a massive income due to the indecision of Berlin, which cannot defend its interests in front of Washington.
The implementation of the Nord Stream-2 project has only strengthened the relationship between the Russian and German economies. Now Merkel has no choice but to insist on the lifting of sanctions. Otherwise, the German government will harm the economy of its own country further. At least, the leadership of Germany will have to clearly distinguish between economic policy and ideology. Actually, Merkel, unlike many European leaders, and now adheres to a similar line, but nevertheless agreed in due time to support the sanctions. You will not envy the Chancellor - Merkel really was between a rock and a hard place of German business and the foreign policy of her American allies.
Meanwhile, the harmful effects of sanctions on the European economy are also widely discussed in other European countries, especially in Italy. It was the Italian opposition politicians who were among the first to raise the question of the need to lift sanctions and build new relations with Russia, taking into account the changed circumstances, including the annexation of the Crimean peninsula.
Germany is going to formally appeal to the United States in order to obtain permission to abandon anti-Russian sanctions. This question will be discussed with representatives of the American leadership by the Minister of Finance of Germany Olaf Scholz. It is possible that at the end of April, when Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with President Trump, the head of the German government will touch upon the issue of relations with Russia in their economic field.
Criticism of anti-Russian sanctions does not come from German ministers themselves, but from influential representatives of big business. German entrepreneurs are tired of suffering multimillion-dollar losses from poor relations with Russia. Businessmen demand that the government intervene and become a defender of the interests of German business, not the United States. Merkel is required that all anti-Russian sanctions affecting business interests be lifted. After all, the losses are really colossal. Now the sanctions have affected those Russian companies with which the giants of the German economy work closely - Siemens, Daimler and Volkswagen. Their leaders fear that losses will amount to hundreds of millions of euros.
It should be noted that, despite the policy of sanctions, German companies continue to trade with Russia very actively. The trade turnover between the two countries grew by 11 billion - up to 54,5 billion euros in 2017. Naturally, German businessmen do not want to lose such a massive income due to the indecision of Berlin, which cannot defend its interests in front of Washington.
The implementation of the Nord Stream-2 project has only strengthened the relationship between the Russian and German economies. Now Merkel has no choice but to insist on the lifting of sanctions. Otherwise, the German government will harm the economy of its own country further. At least, the leadership of Germany will have to clearly distinguish between economic policy and ideology. Actually, Merkel, unlike many European leaders, and now adheres to a similar line, but nevertheless agreed in due time to support the sanctions. You will not envy the Chancellor - Merkel really was between a rock and a hard place of German business and the foreign policy of her American allies.
Meanwhile, the harmful effects of sanctions on the European economy are also widely discussed in other European countries, especially in Italy. It was the Italian opposition politicians who were among the first to raise the question of the need to lift sanctions and build new relations with Russia, taking into account the changed circumstances, including the annexation of the Crimean peninsula.
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