“Zeit” noticed in an interview with the Chancellor that by implementing changes in migration policy, Germany would discourage neighbors such as Poland, which does not want to accept the refugee sending by Germany.
In response, Merz emphasized that “the situation is particularly critical for Poland, because this country is also a victim of hybrid war through migration flows from Belarus and Russia.” He added that he “clearly offered” help in protecting Polish borders, which are also the external borders of the EU.
The Chancellor noted that “in Poland there is a fear that we will send refugees who have been in Germany for years, back through the border. This is not about them. It is about refugees who should apply for asylum in another EU country. We have a common problem with illegal migration and we must solve it together.”
What about sanctions against Russia? “We are in agreement”
Merz was asked about the issue of sanctions against Russia after the Russian government rejected the call to suspend the weapons. – We agree with the heads of states and governments that we must now exhaust all possibilities. We are talking about further sanctions in the energy sector, in the banking sector, further steps regarding assets and sanctions towards people. We are now working on this with our European partners – said the German chancellor.
In response to the question about a possible confiscation of frozen Russian assets, Merz stated that “we are currently explaining this issue. If there is a way to launch money on a solid legal basis, we will do it. However, we must be aware of the risk that such a step brings for the European financial market.”
