Germany Warns of Severing Relations between Russia, EU

Today, Friday, the German Foreign Ministry warned of the negative consequences of severing diplomatic relations between Russia and the European Union (EU).

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that Moscow is ready to cut ties with the European Union if painful economic sanctions are imposed on it.

The German Foreign Ministry described these statements as "exciting to worry."

A spokeswoman for the  German Foreign Ministry said,  at a news conference  held in Berlin, that "these statements are disturbing and not really understood."

The spokeswoman referred to the statements of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who did not rule out imposing new harsh sanctions on Russia, but at the same time stressed the importance of dialogue with Russia.

Relations between Russia and the West faced new tensions due to the imprisonment of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, which raised talk of possible new sanctions.

The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia should prepare for the possibility of sanctions from the European Union over the imprisonment of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.

Three European diplomats told Reuters that the EU will likely impose travel bans and asset freezes on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly this month.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that Moscow should prepare for foreign sanctions.

Russian dissident Navalny returned to the court, today, Friday, to be tried on charges of defamation and insult, charges Navalny says are politically motivated, amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West over his imprisonment.

In the defamation case, Navalny is accused of defaming a veteran of World War II who participated in a promotional video supporting the constitutional amendments last year that allowed Putin to run for two more terms in the Kremlin after 2024 if he so desired.

Navalny described the participants in the video as traitors and corrupt whims.

He accuses the authorities of using slander and defamation charges to discredit him.