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Merkel's Good Cop, Bad Cop Act: Work With Russia, Keep Sanctions in Place

© AP Photo / Markus SchreiberGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a debate at the German parliament prior to a vote on another bailout package for Greece, in the German Bundestag in Berlin
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a debate at the German parliament prior to a vote on another bailout package for Greece, in the German Bundestag in Berlin - Sputnik International
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel signals her country's readiness to mend ties with Moscow, but says that the anti-Russian sanctions will remain in place.

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The EU will not lift its sanctions against Russia because of the conflict in Ukraine, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, adding that Berlin is seeking to return to constructive relations with Moscow, the German news network Deutsche Welle reported.

According to Merkel, the EU knows full well that the sanctions have already affected a whole array of Western companies.

"So we certainly want a political framework where the conditions  would allow us to abandon the sanctions," she was quoted by Deutsche Welle as saying.

She expressed regret about what she described as "substantial violations of international law and the unstable situation," which Merkel said prevented the issue from being resolved.

The West has repeatedly accused Russia of backing supporters of the Donbass region’s independence in eastern Ukraine, allegations that Moscow vehemently denies.

At the same time, Merkel made it clear that Germany is interested in returning to constructive ties with Moscow.

"We want partnership relations with Russia, [because] we have so many international problems," she pointed out.

According to her, Moscow, in particular, can play an important role in defusing tensions in Syria.

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Moscow has more than once said that it considers the anti-Russian sanctions unjustified and illegal.

The US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most of Europe have been slapping sanctions on Russia since March 2014 due to their disapproval of the Kremlin’s response to the crisis in Ukraine.

On June 22, 2015, the Foreign Ministers of the EU countries decided to extend the anti-Russian sanctions until January 31, 2016.

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