German Ambassador Labels Anti-Russia Sanctions Tool of Politics

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Sanctions imposed by several Western countries on Russia over its alleged involvement in fueling the Ukrainian crisis will be lifted sooner or later as they are the tools of politics rather than punishment, German Ambassador to Russia Ruediger von Fritsch said Wednesday.

"These sanctions are a political instrument rather than punishment. Therefore, they will be lifted someday. I would like to emphasize once again that they are a reaction rather than the measure of influence, so they will be lifted," the ambassador said at Russia's State University for the Humanities.

Earlier in the week, Minister President of Germany's Saxony Stanislaw Tillich urged to lift anti-Russia sanctions as soon as possible, with Russia being an important trade partner for Germany and the European Union in a long-term perspective.

In 2014, the United States, the EU countries and some of their allies imposed a series of economic sanctions targeting key Russian sectors as well as a number of individuals and entities over Crimea’s reunification with Russia and Moscow's alleged interference in the conflict between Kiev and independence militia in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive. In response to the restrictive measures, Russia announced in August 2014 a food embargo on some products originating in states that imposed sanctions against it.