“Of course, we are ready for new sanctions if absolutely necessary, but they are not a goal in itself. We don’t want them,” she told reporters after talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Berlin.
Austria as well does not support the immediate extension of economic sanctions against Russia, the country's Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said Monday.
The bloc, alongside the United States and several other Western nations, has also accused Moscow of meddling in Ukraine's affairs and fueling the internal crisis in the country. Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations and retaliated with an embargo on food products from the European Union.
Angela Merkel said Monday Berlin is ready to take part in programs of economic assistance to crisis-hit Ukraine.
"We can see now the IMF program for Ukraine being implemented, and Germany is ready to assist," she said.
Poroshenko is currently on an official visit to Germany.
