Relations between Russia and the European Union have reached their lowest point. This was stated by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, discussing possible new sanctions against the Russians. His words are reported by RIA Novosti.
The diplomat believes that the EU should prepare a new, additional package of sanctions against a number of Russian citizens. This position is related to the case of Alexei Navalny, the founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK, included by the Ministry of Justice in the register of organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent).
Maas, however, is in favor of continuing a constructive dialogue with Russia, despite the clearly difficult situation in relations with the Russian state.
Earlier it was reported that Paris and Berlin may abandon tougher sanctions: for example, against the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. At the same time, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg spoke out against excessive sanctions against Russia, urging “not to cut the branch on which we are sitting.”
In early February, the court changed Navalny’s suspended sentence in the Yves Rocher case to a real one, sentencing him to 3.5 years in a general regime colony. This decision drew strong criticism from Western countries.