Today The Wall Street Journal published an article where drew attention to the split in the European society in general and the German society in particular due to the prolongation of sanctions against Russia.
"The German society just tears apart at the seams. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that it is too early to remove sanctions imposed against Russian due to Ukraine, but the Social Democrats didn't agree with her. Leading German politicians are increasingly inclined to believe that the European sanctions should be weakened," the newspaper notes, adding that Berlin actively underlines the necessity to improve relations with Moscow, which were prosperous in the past."
This ‘crack’ continues in the in the ruling coalition that consists of the CDU / CSU and the Social Democratic Party. WSJ cites political scientist and social democrat Rolf Myuttsenih: "The differences between the partners in the ruling coalition reflect the long-standing polar views in respect of sanctions in Europe, as long as Italy, Greece and Hungary have always been critical in respect of sanctions and supported their removal in the near future."
As a result, the European position is not common. "In Germany the Social Democrats have been in favor of good relations with the Russian Federation for many decades. From the very beginning they reluctantly supported sanctions," the newspaper says, citing Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier: ‘‘It is right and it is necessary to continue to put pressure, but we should impose sanctions against Russia in a more rational manner."
"Sanctions are not an end in itself. Taking into account the fact that there is no progress in this situation. So it is necessary to resort to their weakening," Steinmeier explained his position.
The authorities of the European Union don’t hurry to discuss the matter, postponing it to the second half of the year, and the head of the European Council Donald Tusk stated openly that sanctions against Russia will be extended "in the next two to three weeks." The reason is simple. As the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, Norbert Röttgen, stressed the lifting of sanctions from Moscow would threaten the EU's relations with the United States. "This will cause a split of the whole West, and thus it will considerably weaken its authority and influence,’’ Rettgen said.
