Report: Merkel will offer EU to toughen anti-Russian sanctions
BERLIN/GOA, India, Oct 17 (PRIME) -- Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to suggest the E.U. toughen anti-Russian sanctions due to the situation in Syria and target the country’s aircraft and defense industry, local daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported on October 15 citing a source close to the government.
U.S. President Barack Obama promised to support Merkel if the E.U. supports new sanctions against Moscow, the daily reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said separately that Moscow does not plan to ease its countersanctions against the West. “No way,” Putin said.
In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia limited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.
End