Germany is not interested in the sanctions that are currently in force against the Russian Federation. This opinion was expressed by the Minister of Economy and Energy of Germany Peter Altmeier during the conference "Competitive Russia - new ways", which was held in Berlin on February 21.

According to him, Berlin decided to impose financial restrictions on the Russian Federation for political reasons and for reasons of unity of the European Union.

“But we have to work on changing political relations in such a way as to come to other decisions one day,” said Altmayer.

Note that this is not the first statement by prominent Western politicians on this subject. For example, during the 55th Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the “deliberate political exclusion of Russia” a strategically wrong decision for Europe. According to her, on the basis of the geostrategic position, on the continent, no one is interested in breaking off relations with Moscow. Meanwhile, referring to the issue of sanctions, Merkel stressed the importance of harmonizing new anti-Russian restrictions.

The negative aspect of the sanctions against the Russian Federation, as well as the need to build a dialogue with Moscow, was also previously stated by politicians from other European states, including Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Hungarian Foreign Minister Viktor Orban and Peter Siyarto, MEP and Vice President of the National front "France, Nicolas Be.

At the same time, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Mayo explained that the desire to lift the sanctions was not aimed at supporting Moscow, but proceeding from the interests of his own country. A similar point of view at a meeting with US President Donald Trump was expressed by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz. According to him, in the interests of Vienna normal relations, both with the East and with the West.

“I would not say that we have a better relationship with Russia than with other countries. I will say more, the Russian Federation traditionally shows more interest in Austria and thus seeks more contact with representatives of the Austrian government, the president and the chancellor than the United States probably does. I feel great in the middle: with good contacts in Europe, in the West and the East, with good contact with superpowers, ”the Austrian leader explained after a meeting with Trump.

"Convinced of the destructiveness of the policy of the United States"

Such statements are primarily related to the fact that representatives of many countries understand the lack of benefit from sanctions against Russia, Vladimir Jabarov, first deputy chairman of the committee of the Federation Council on international affairs, said in an interview with RT.

“However, so far no one takes responsibility for fear of pressure from the overseas brother. Nevertheless, most countries will look exactly at the further actions of Germany, ”explained the senator.

He stressed that initially the policies of European countries were aware of the economic impairment of financial constraints imposed by the United States.

“They introduced them only because of transatlantic solidarity. Nevertheless, the real steps on the part of Germany should be expected only after the launch of Nord Stream 2. The Germans and so constantly restrain US pressure on the project. But they stand firmly on their own, and they are supported by other states, ”said Jabarov.

As the deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense and Security, Yury Shvytkin, added, a rather large number of EU countries occupy a similar, critical position on anti-Russian restrictions.

“I met with some deputies of the Bundestag and they expressed very sensible thoughts of a negative nature in connection with these sanctions measures. Germany was convinced of itself, especially in the framework of the joint implementation of the Nord Stream 2, of the destructiveness of the policy of the United States. They understood that the situation is completely politicized and is for the good of only one country - the United States and, accordingly, to the detriment of all EU members. European countries are suffering heavy losses from the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions, ”the source said.

“The EU has become infected with the bacillus of American permissiveness”

We add that on Thursday, February 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during a briefing for representatives of the Association of European Businesses, said that the EU’s business community was tired of sanctions and confrontational relations. According to him, European businessmen are ready to resume full-scale cooperation with the Russian Federation. At the same time, the minister noted that the purpose of demonizing Russia among the European public was the creation of a “convenient screen” for solving geopolitical tasks.

"It is regrettable that the peace and security of the peoples of Europe have become hostages of the destructive policies of Washington and a small but extremely aggressive group of Russophobes inside the European Union," the foreign minister said.

He stressed that the beginning of the sanctions policy had seriously undermined mutual trust between Moscow and Brussels, which had been “worked long and hard” for building.

“European manufacturers suffer losses estimated in tens, and maybe hundreds of millions of dollars, and all this in order for the Kiev regime to continue the war against its own people. I don’t think it is in the interests of Europeans, ”added Lavrov.

At the same time, the Foreign Minister stated that attempts to hinder the economic and technological development of Russia were not crowned with success. According to him, Russian manufacturers have “recovered” under the restrictions of the West.

At the same time, the diplomat pointed out that not everyone in Europe now supports the intention to normalize relations between Russia and the EU.

“It’s not stopping - you know it, every day you’re watching - an anti-Russian campaign. They are persistently trying to present our country as a strategic threat to European security, one-sided restrictions have been regularly extended, and just the other day the European Union once again succumbed to the pressure of its internal russophobes, the United States and Ukraine, ”Lavrov explained.

  • Sergey Lavrov's briefing for representatives of the Association of European Businesses in Russia
  • RIA News
  • © Ilya Pitalev

Recall that on Monday, February 18, the EU countries reached a political consensus on new individual sanctions against the Russian Federation in connection with the incident in the Kerch Strait. According to the head of European diplomacy, Federica Mogherini, the formal process of their introduction will end in the coming days.

In this regard, we add that in the course of today's speech, Lavrov noted that on the issue of imposing financial restrictions, Brussels actually began to copy the actions of Washington, which is completely unceremoniously extraterritorially applying its legislation.

“We should refuse from these sanctions at all. The European Union has a little infected with the bacillus of American permissiveness, ”Lavrov stated.