Europe is not interested in breaking off relations with Russia. This was stated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a speech at the Munich Security Conference.

“The deliberate political exclusion of Russia is wrong, I think this is strategically wrong for us. Geostrategically, Europe has no interest in breaking off all relations with Russia, ”RIA Novosti quotes Merkel.

The Chancellor also noted that Berlin supports the continuation of the dialogue between NATO and the Russian Federation, while remaining committed to the NATO-Russia Founding Act.

In addition, Merkel raised the issue of Russia's presence in the gas market in Europe. According to her, attempts to exclude Moscow from this sphere of trade for political reasons are erroneous.

“This signal, from a strategic point of view, is erroneous,” said Merkel. At the same time, she clarified that the issue of buying American gas "is not being questioned."

However, Merkel spoke about the likelihood of the adoption of new sanctions against Russia. According to her, such measures should be taken in concert.

Thus, the Chancellor admitted the possibility of new sanctions, linking them to the incident in the Kerch Strait in November 2018. Recall, then three ships of the Ukrainian Navy deliberately violated the border of Russia, after which their crew was detained. The Russian side called the incident a provocation.

“I ask that possible sanctions against Russia, which can be expanded, for example, as a result of an actual incident in the Kerch Strait, should be coordinated if possible. We do not benefit from each of them imposing sanctions, ”said the chancellor.

  • EU flag at the office of the European Union in Moscow
  • © Vladimir Astapkovich

Earlier, the media reported on the preparation in the EU of new sanctions against Russia in connection with the incident in the Kerch Strait. As Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneisl told about these measures later, "the decision has already been taken at an appropriate level." She later clarified that the sanctions against the Russian Federation will affect specific individuals, not the economy.

On the eve of the possibility of new sanctions commented in the Russian Foreign Ministry, stressing that these measures are unfounded.

“The sanction policy of the same European Union, or the USA, or the countries of the alliance, is useless to discuss. These are things, on the one hand, systemic from the point of view of a course on containing Russia, on the other hand, they have absolutely no basis, because there are reasons for nothing, ”said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

"At stake is Russian gas"

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Alexey Chepa, believes that Merkel’s words about the inexpediency of breaking off relations with Russia are a positive signal.

“This is a sound statement based on objective reality. Most politicians and leaders of countries think so, but just not everyone can have the opportunity to speak directly, because everything depends on the United States, which puts pressure on leaders of all countries, ”said Chapa in an interview with RT.

According to Oleg Morozov, a member of the committee of the Federation Council on international affairs, Merkel’s statements reflect two trends. On the one hand, Germany is absolutely interested in an economic partnership with Russia, the senator notes.

"At stake is Russian gas and the Nord Stream 2, in which Germany is more interested than anyone else, and by the way, the political elite has the support of voters in this area," Morozov said.

Morozov noted that Germany is a member of the collective West, NATO, therefore, it “has a difficult time in this difficult dilemma”. According to him, speaking of economic interests, Merkel definitely makes it clear that it is impossible to break relations with Russia.

“On the other hand, it is necessary to support the whole idea of ​​sanctions, to maintain a negative attitude towards Russia that comes from overseas, and to demonstrate Atlantic solidarity,” Morozov notes.

Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics at MPPU, also believes that Merkel is in a situation where it is necessary to take into account the interests of Germany and the attitudes of the political elites of European countries.

“On the one hand, there are the USA and the structures of NATO and the EU, and a part of the political elites of European countries that are oriented towards Euro-Atlantism is a stance towards toughening confrontation with Russia. On the other hand, there are national interests of a particular European country, ”the expert says.

“Merkel is between two polar points of view. She can not make the final choice. Such statements are the result of this maneuvering, ”Shapovalov believes.

According to the expert, Merkel’s call to consolidate the EU in the matter of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation is connected with the fact that a significant part of European politicians opposes tougher sanctions pressure.

“In fact, this is undisguised pressure on those countries and those political elites who do not want to line up in one line and, focusing on their national interests, strive to pursue an independent policy, to minimize sanctions measures against Russia,” he concluded.