Before Putin invaded Ukraine, Germany and Russia were close partners, hooked up by lobbyists and entrepreneurs. And the old networks are still at work, reports a think tank. Business also continues.
Annalena Baerbock actually expressed herself clearly when she talked about the Russian war against Ukraine on the sidelines of a business trip to Finland in mid-June. “It is completely clear to us as the German federal government: As the European Union, we must continue to maintain the pressure of sanctions against Russia,” said the German Foreign Minister. It's just unfortunate that the same federal government was delaying negotiations on new sanctions against Russia in Brussels at that time. Of all things, there is one central point: how to prevent potentially war-important machines and components from the EU from reaching Russia.
