German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer warned it would be unacceptable for the United States to use possible sanctions against Russia as a tool of industrial policy,
"This is concerning not only for the German industry… Sanctions against Russia should not become a tool of industrial policy in the US interests," Schaefer said at a press briefing.
He also called for close coordination of proposed sanctions between Europe and Washington.
Schaefer said that Berlin wanted to work with the US on the sanctions, which he said would not necessarily be adopted, but "could not accept" the practice of carrying out industrial policy under the guise of sanctions, Reuters reported.
