PRESS RELEASE

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Steinmeier Defends ‘No’ to New Russia Sanctions

Oct. 24, 2016 (EIRNS)—Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on TV last night that the decision at the European Union summit meetings last week, not to have new sanctions against Russia, was the right decision:

"A decision for sanctions would have been good for the news headlines of the following day, but not have achieved anything for the people in Aleppo."

Granted, Steinmeier said, the humanitarian situation there was still very precarious, and last week’s cease-fire was entirely insufficient, but sanctions would not improve anything. The only alternative, diplomatic talks to get a real cease-fire and end the fighting, must be pursued, he urged.