Germany backs 'justified' sanctions on Russia amid calls for rethink
European sanctions on Russia are "justified, sensible and effective," a German government spokeswoman said on Monday.
The comments by spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann in Berlin came after calls by senior politicians in eastern Germany for restrictions on Russia, imposed in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, to be re-examined.
Michael Kretschmer, the conservative premier of the state of Saxony, said Germany's categorical refusal to loosen sanctions was "completely out of date" and in contrast to efforts by the United States.
"If you're weakening yourself more than your opponent, you have to rethink what you're doing," Kretschmer told dpa.
A spokeswoman for the German Foreign Office defended the sanctions and said "Russia has the option to end this war, which led to sanctions in the first place."
Kretchmer's view was echoed by Dietmar Woidke, the centre-left premier of the state of Brandenburg, who said he would "of course be delighted if [Germany] could also re-establish normal economic relations with Russia."
A major refinery for Russian oil in the town of Schwedt in Brandenburg was strongly affected by the sanctions.
But a spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry said there were no plans to resume imports of Russian oil, as Germany has expended great effort to make itself independent of Russian energy.
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