'While Germany wants a “constructive relationship” with Russia, “we have to live with the reality” of its actions in annexing Crimea and backing separatists in eastern Ukraine, Merkel told reporters Thursday in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will stand together against any threats and are committed to protecting the Baltic nation that borders Russia, she said.
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It’s necessary to “call it as you see it” on the Ukrainian conflict and it’s not possible simply to accommodate Russia even as the European Union, which imposed sanctions, has made “many offers” to try to resolve the crisis, Merkel said.
“I, for one, couldn’t imagine that Russia would flout international law to the point of annexing Crimea,” Merkel said. “Who would have expected separatists to destabilize eastern Ukraine to such a degree with Moscow’s support?”
The EU can’t discuss lifting sanctions against Russia without “significant improvement” in implementing the 2015 truce accord signed in Minsk, Belarus, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said at a news conference with Merkel in Prague later on Thursday.'
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Putin Orders Army Drills as Merkel Accuses Russia on Ukraine, August 25, 2016
Context '[Russia] may become a threat to the world. That is the worst thing that could happen to Russia.' - Yegor Gaidar'..the Soviet Union was cut off from Western financial markets and was effectively under permanent sanctions..''..social, political and geopolitical risks associated with economic stagnation..''..any conversation about the future of European security will have to start with Crimea.''They should have clearer positions and show Russia they will stop its impudence and appetite sooner or later''..a very determined way begin to establish quality communications with the Russians..' - Breedlove'..has called on Russia to withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukraine and to stop supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine.''Russia .. has to withdraw from Ukraine to gain relief from Western sanctions..'To Nikolai Patrushev: '[Gaidar] warns Russia..'