Germany’s foreign minister favours gradual phasing-out of Russia sanctions

The European Union should gradually phase out sanctions imposed against Russia over the Ukraine crisis if there is substantial progress in the peace process, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was quoted by Sputnik as saying on Sunday.

His comments reflect divisions within Germany’s ruling right-left coalition over policy towards Russia. Steinmeier’s Social Democrats (SPD) back a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow than Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc.

Steinmeier struck a different tone. “Sanctions are not an end in themselves. They should rather give incentives for a change in behavior,” he told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, a network of local newspapers.

Source ; MENA