Media: Germany's new government won't change its sanction policy against Russia
The coalition government of the Christian Democratic Union, the Christian Social Union and the Social Democratic Party of Germany bloc has no plans to change its sanctions policy against Russia, Spiegel reported, referring to the coalition’s 167-page draft agreement.
The draft did not indicate the position of the Social Democrats on the progressive elimination of restrictive measures before the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. According to the draft, “If the Minsk agreements are implemented, we’ll be ready to cancel the sanctions and only after that we will start a proper dialogue with European partners.”
This was essentially the same as the previous government’s position on the matter. Coalition members are expected to reach a final agreement soon on whether this document will be a new version of the coalition agreement.
Social Democratic Party politicians and Foreign Minister Sigmar Hartmut Gabriel were among the first to propose the progressive elimination of sanctions against Russia until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented.