Merz proposes strategy to exhaust Russia’s economy
Photo: Friedrich Merz (Getty Images)
Russia must be deprived of the ability to sustain its military economy. This can be achieved through sanctions, says German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in an interview with Sat.1, as n-tv reports.
"We have to create the foundation. Militarily, it will be difficult, but economically, it can be done," Merz said.
According to the German Chancellor, it is necessary to ensure that Russia can no longer support its military economy.
"In this context, I'm talking about economic exhaustion, which we must help bring about," Merz continued.
According to the German Chancellor, this can be achieved, for example, through tariffs on those who still trade with Russia.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has imposed 18 sanction packages, which have sharply reduced German imports from Russia, including a halt to hydrocarbon purchases. Germany’s trade with Russia has fallen by more than 80%.
Earlier, Chancellor Merz also called Putin a war criminal. “He is possibly the most serious war criminal of our time, which we are now witnessing on a large scale,” Merz said.
According to the German Chancellor, Putin sees no reason to pursue a ceasefire or peace agreement with Ukraine. “I have no reason to believe Putin on any point,” Merz added.
