Merkel advocated a unified movement of Russian economy with Europe – RBC

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Photo: EPA / Vostock-Photo

Speaking at the party Congress, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that he sees the possibility of a future common economic area from Lisbon to Vladivostok, provided gradual Russia’s rapprochement with Europe

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed support for the idea of ​​Russia’s move to a gradual rapprochement with Europe, including the creation of a common economic zone. She stated this at the Congress party “Christian Democratic Union”, reports Frankfurter Allgemeine.

«I am for Russia to gradually, step-by-step approach with European economic space that eventually we there was a common economic area from Lisbon to Vladivostok “, – explained Merkel

Merkel repeated his thesis about the readiness” to put an immediate end to sanctions against Russia “after the Moscow Minsk agreements.. She said that the European Union can not compromise his principles against the background of “Russia’s actions in Ukraine».

According to the Federal Chancellor, continuing civil war in eastern Ukraine, which Russia supports. For this reason, Merkel clarified, and sanctions were imposed.

At the end of May, the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the possibility of a phased lifting of sanctions with Russia in the case of progress in resolving the situation in the Donbass. “Sanctions are not an end in itself. And sanctions is definitely not a means to make the other partner to kneel. Nobody is interested in the economic destruction of Russia “, – said the head of the German Foreign Office

He said that sanctions should be an incentive for the” political behavior, based on the termination of the conflict. “. “That is, in the current situation, and rightly so in our view, continue to exert pressure, but as far as the sanctions mechanism – this should be done sensibly, as I said last week,” – said Steinmeier

. “The principle of” all or nothing “does not bring us closer to the goal. At least at the moment. So my suggestion is to include an element of enabling both parties. And in the case of substantial progress should be possible gradual lifting of existing sanctions, “- summed up policies.