Considering the joint statement from several European states that Russian opposition critic Alexei Navalny is believed to have died from poisoning, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul does not rule out tightening sanctions on Russia.
He told the ARD capital studio’s “Report from Berlin” that a comprehensive sanctions regime against Russia is already in place. “Making it more effective, making it stricter, ensuring that Russia feels the impact even more-those changes have definite German backing” Wadephul said when asked about the United Kingdom’s announcement of a coordinated tightening.
After German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and French President Emmanuel Macron began initial talks about a European nuclear shield at the Munich Security Conference, Wadephul pointed to the protection already provided by NATO partners. “The American shield exists. No one is questioning it in Washington, and I strongly advise against questioning it from a European perspective”. He added that France and the United Kingdom, as European NATO members, already possess the relevant nuclear armament.
