Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called for additional Western sanctions against Russia in response to the latest wave of attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Speaking on public broadcaster ARD on Sunday, Wadephul stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is not interested in peace” and that the European Union would agree on further sanctions to prevent the continuation of the war.
Overnight, Russian forces launched a large-scale aerial attack on Ukraine, involving 367 drones and missiles, targeting cities including Kyiv. Ukrainian officials reported that at least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in what they described as the largest aerial assault of the war to date.
Wadephul expressed hope that the United States would also implement new sanctions packages. He suggested that the cumulative impact of these measures could compel Putin to engage in negotiations, thereby averting potentially severe consequences for Russia’s economy and energy sectors.
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Turning to the situation in Gaza, Wadephul conveyed Germany’s deep concern regarding the “unbearable” human suffering. He noted that Germany is actively engaged with Israeli, Middle Eastern, and European counterparts to facilitate solutions.
“Germany has a clear position: no expulsions (of the Palestinian population) from the Gaza Strip, an end to hunger. And the Strip as well as the West Bank belong to the Palestinians, on the way to a two-state solution,” he said.
Reports from Gaza indicate that Israeli military strikes on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 23 Palestinians, including a local journalist and a senior rescue service official, according to local health authorities.
