Russia sanctions working, German chancellor says

Berlin, Mar 23 (EFE).- Western sanctions against Russia are working, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday, as he warned Russian president Vladimir Putin to expect more measures in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

“We see that sanctions are working. This is just the beginning, we will constantly tighten sanctions,” Scholz said during a debate in the Bundestag.

While he said that Berlin would do “everything we can” to contribute to securing peace, telling president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that “Ukraine can count on our help,” he repeated his stance that Nato nations should not directly intervene.

“We have avoided confrontation in Europe for 80 years and it must remain so,” Scholz said.

The chancellor said he has spoken to Putin on several occasions in recent weeks and insisted that “he has to know the truth – the war is destroying the future of Russia. The guns must be silenced right now.”

Scholz also said refugees from Ukraine would be welcome, praising the “unprecedented wave of solidarity” displayed in Germany and several other European countries, but that the humanitarian crisis triggered by the war represents “a huge task ahead”.

Over 3.6 million refugees have left Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on February 24. EFE

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