German Vp Says New Sanctions To Make 'Rapid İmpact'

Germany's Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has said he is confident that European Union sanctions against Russia will prove successful.



"I think that they will rapidly make an impact," Gabriel told journalists following Wednesday's cabinet meeting. "After all, the Russian economy is not in good condition."



The EU agreed on Tuesday to broaden the scope of sanctions on the Russian financial, energy and military sectors.



Gabriel said that despite all calls from European countries, Russia had failed to make real steps toward defusing tensions in Ukraine.



He said: "EU member states have decided together to toughen the sanctions against Russia. This has been urgently needed."



Gabriel underlined that the new sanctions would target oligarchs and put pressure on them to influence the Kremlin.



Previous EU sanctions only targeted individuals presumed to be involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The latest sanctions focus on economic and financial sectors, with Russia's state-owned banks now unable to trade stocks and bonds with EU-based banks.



The United Nations said more than 1,100 people have been killed since the Ukrainian army launched an offensive against pro-Russian separatists in April.



The downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, which killed 298 people on board, also led to an increase in tensions between the West and Russia.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Berlin