BERLIN (Sputnik) — Relations between Russia and the European Union, including Germany as its member state, deteriorated amid the 2014 crisis in Ukraine. Brussels has introduced several rounds of economic sanctions against Moscow since the reunification of Crimea with Russia in 2014, accusing Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian conflict.
Russia has denied the allegations and introduced a one-year food embargo in August 2014 on products originating in states that imposed sanctions against it.
"We have never suspended the dialogue with Russia. This is true for NATO and for bilateral relations, and for any contacts with the Russian government…," Schaefer said during a briefing in Berlin.
