Berlin Still Deliberating Response to Siemens Turbine Deliveries to Crimea

BERLIN (Sputnik) — Germany is still deliberating response measures to the delivery of Siemens conglomerate's turbines to Crimea, Demmer said.

"Measures in response to these unacceptable actions are currently being discussed," Demmer said following reports citing diplomatic sources claiming that Berlin had proposed adding up to four Russian citizens and entities to the European Union's sanctions list.

Earlier in the day, the Reuters news agency reported citing diplomatic sources that Berlin offered to add up to four Russian nationals and organizations to the sanctions list in connection with the situation around the supplied Siemens turbines. According to the media, the countries of the European Union can discuss new sanctions against Moscow over the turbines on Wednesday.

Reacting to these media reports, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kremlin would not comment on the information, which "does not contain any links to at least some intelligible source."

In early July, Siemens created a task force team to examine reports about the transfers of turbines produced by Siemens Gas Turbines Technologies, a joint venture with the Russian Power Machines company, to the Crimean peninsula. On Friday, the company said it had "credible information" that all four of its turbines intended for the project in southern Russia's Taman were illegally moved to Crimea. Siemens decided to annul a power plant equipment supply license agreement and suspend power equipment supplies to Russian state firms to devise new control measures.

Commenting on the issue, Russia's Technopromexport (TPE) said it purchased turbines for Crimean power plants in the secondary market, with Russian engineering companies modernizing them.