Angela Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Berlin could not accept the affiliation of Crimea to Russia. This opinion she expressed in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung, published on Sunday, September 10.
“If I hear, for example, that you just need to accept the annexation of Crimea by Russia, I think, what would happen if to us if the GDR was such an attitude: “Germany is split, there is nothing to change”,” — said the German leader.
In her view, history is a lesson that “we should not just accept injustice”. So Merkel responded to the words of the leader of the Free democratic party, Christian Lindner, who in mid-August, expressed confidence that the Crimea should be recognized part of Russia.
“Crimea will never return to the Ukraine. Sanctions will not help. Russia is a force in Europe and we have to integrate it into the European order,” he said in an interview with the Berliner Morgenpost.
A similar statement in early September, was made by the leader of the Social democratic party of Germany and a candidate for the post of Chancellor Martin Schulz. “I think the situation is that the Russians have made it a fait accompli, what they will insist on it”, — he explained, adding that still considers the annexation of Crimea to Russia in violation of international law.
Crimea became part of Russia after the March 2014 referendum in which the decision was made by the majority of the members voting. Kiev refused to recognize the results of the plebiscite. Moscow points to the fact that the referendum was carried out in accordance with all norms of international law.
In 2014, a number of countries, including the USA and member States of the European Union has imposed restrictive measures against Moscow. In June 2017 the economic sanctions were extended until 31 January 2018. In addition, in relation to citizens and legal entities of Russia and Ukraine, there are individual sanctions. On 5 September, the permanent representatives of member countries of the European Union agreed to renew them, the decision will formally approve the EU Council.