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Victor Tolochko/RIA “Novosti”
The Ukrainian foreign Ministry expressed dissatisfaction with the position of leader of the Free democratic party of Germany, Christian Lindner, recently called on the EU to improve relations with Russia and the situation with the Crimea “temporary measure”. The head of the Ministry Pavel Klimkin accused the German policy to “encourage the aggressor to further crime” and urged to continue to strive for the “liberation of Crimea”.
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin criticised German politician, leader of the Free democratic party (FDP) Christian Lindner for his calls to develop relations with Russia and temporarily forget about the situation with the Crimea. The Minister said in an interview with German newspaper Bild.
“We are very concerned that some politicians, as is now the leader of the FDP, Christian Lindner, continue to ignore obvious violations of international law or even to justify them” — said Klimkin. He added that thus the policy of “encourage the aggressor to further crime and become accomplices in the crimes of Putin.” Klimkin called for the “liberation of Crimea” by any political and diplomatic methods.
The indignation of the Ukrainian policy has caused the recent statement by Lindner about the need to ease the sanctions against Russia, encouraging “positive interim step”.
This proposal the head of the FDP announced on 5 August in an interview with the newspaper Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. However, he said that to lift sanctions against Russia to implement the Minsk agreements cannot, however, be important to continue attempts to break the deadlock in relations with Moscow. Lindner stressed that relations with Moscow depends on the security and prosperity in Europe.
“I morally support our Eastern European NATO partner, and consider the development of relations with USA as priority. However, Putin should be given the opportunity without loss of face to adjust their policies,” — said the German politician.
Lindner also expressed the view that the accession of Crimea to Russia should be seen as a temporary measure. The policy position on the Crimean Peninsula shares almost half of the Germans — his words, according to the survey Civey, was supported by 44% of the population. Now the Free democratic party is the second political force in Germany after the Christian democratic Union (CDU) of Angela Merkel. According to experts, for the FDP has a good chance in the upcoming at the end of September the elections to the German Bundestag.
The policy of Germany and the United States have repeatedly disagreed on how one should build relations with Moscow. Recall, August 2, the President of the United States Donald trump has signed the law on extension of anti-Russian sanctions. A few days before the signing of the bill by the Minister of economy of Germany, Brigitte zypris called the bill of the US sanctions against Russia violate international law.
“It just violates international law. America can not fine the German companies, because they undertake an economic activity in another country,” said cipres.
On the eve of the signing into U.S. law on sanctions, the foreign Minister of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel, Gabriel said that Berlin is in this situation is trying, on the one hand, to contribute through sanctions to overcome the Ukrainian crisis and “to exert political pressure on Moscow”, and with another — to protect themselves from the American industrial policy.
“We will defend ourselves from industrial policy under the slogan “America first”, carried out under the pretext of sanctions,” said Gabriel. He also believes that it is necessary to remain a United front in matters of restrictions against Moscow.
After signing the bill on 2 August the German government announced that they intend to validate this document for violations of international law. “We remain of the view that the aim of us sanctions should not become the EU economy, if we are talking about introduction of sanctions against Russia’s actions. In principle we reject sanctions are extraterritorial, that is, third States,” — said in a statement issued by the press service of the Cabinet of Germany.
The European Commission also expressed doubts about certain provisions of the new U.S. law. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made a statement in which he warned Washington that in case the interests of European companies will be disadvantaged, the EU reserves the right to take protective measures.
“We have to protect our interests before the United States, and we are ready to do it,” — said the head of the European Commission.