Photo: Reuters
Europe should step out of its comfort zone and impose truly painful sanctions against Russia, including a ban on gas and uranium imports and the confiscation of frozen Russian state assets. This was stated by Torsten Fry, Chief of Staff to the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in an interview with Reuters.
The new EU and UK sanctions have already hit the Kremlin’s “shadow fleet” and financial structures that help Russia circumvent restrictions. However, Berlin believes this is not enough.
“We need to go beyond the usual. A ban on gas, uranium, or confiscation of Russian assets are the steps that will really hit Russia,” said Frye, who is known as Merz’s right-hand man.
Chancellor Merz did not rule out the possibility of confiscating Russian assets if international law allows it. Meanwhile, Frye believes that Moscow is deliberately delaying the talks and continuing to shell, including during the last talks in Istanbul.
Germany may also increase its military aid to Ukraine beyond the €7 billion already provided.
