GERMAN Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Sunday he does not believe tighter sanctions against Russia will help resolve the Ukraine crisis even though Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday the European Union is considering further sanctions.

    Gabriel, Germany’s Vice Chancellor and the leader of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) that shares power with Merkel’s conservatives, told German TV network ARD that he did not believe sanctions will move Russia President Vladimir Putin.

    Merkel and Gabriel and their two parties that have an overwhelming majority in parliament have until now generally been in agreement on sanctions, even though German industry has opposed them. It is not yet clear what impact Merkel’s new stronger comments at the G20 meeting in Brisbane will have.

    Gabriel, who is the SPD’s likely candidate to challenge Merkel in 2017, also criticized NATO “saber-rattling” on the border to Russia, adding a political solution was needed.

    “I can’t see how that would help us move forward economically,” Gabriel said when asked about tougher sanctions. “That will only make the situation more difficult.”

    Gabriel said he backed the course pursuing dialogue with Putin that Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a senior figure in his SPD party, have pursued.

    “It’s right that Angela Merkel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier are focusing on dialogue — and not confrontation as others are,” he said. “For example I think it’s totally wrong to react with permanent NATO saber-rattling on the Russian border.”

    European leaders including Merkel warned at a weekend G20 meeting in Brisbane of more sanctions unless Russia ends its support for pro-Russian separatist rebels.

    (SD-Agencies)