Former German Chancellor Schroeder praises Putin and opposes sanctions against Russia

In an interview with Die Zeit, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said that Europe is lucky with Russian President Vladimir Putin, unlike White House owner Donald Trump, because Mr. Putin has a more reasonable way of thinking.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroede in a conversation with Russian President Putin.

Mr. Gerhard Schroeder also criticized the West's sanctions policy. "I am against sanctions. Because when there is progress, for example in withdrawing heavy weapons from Donbass, we do not ease sanctions, but talk about extending or even tightening sanctions. And who is putting pressure on Kiev?"

According to Mr. Schroeder, the Ukrainian authorities are waging war against Donbass and cutting off energy supplies to the population there. According to the politician, the biggest mistake of the EU is to only engage with Ukraine, a potential member of the union, and no one is negotiating with the Russian Federation.

The former German Chancellor also said that he does not believe in the "myth of Russia's aggressive policy." According to him, concerns that the Kremlin wants to annex the Baltic states and Poland are "absurd." On the contrary, the Russian Federation feels threatened by the West.

"The US attempts to draw Ukraine and Georgia into NATO, the deployment of missile defense systems and NATO's move closer to the borders of the Russian Federation. All this is worrying. Since George Bush Jr., US policy has been aimed at isolating and encircling Russia. They do not want Russia to become strong. The question is, are we, the Germans and the Europeans, interested in a weak Russia?" Mr. Schroeder said.

"The Russians are our neighbors," the former prime minister stressed. "We need Russia's market and energy resources. We need them politically, when it comes to the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear program and the Caucasus region."

According to Sputnik