Berlin announces new measures against Moscow
German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadeful said that the measures taken against the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin significantly limit Moscow's capabilities. Berlin is explaining these decisions by accusations of Russian involvement in the attempted terrorist attack at Leipzig/Halle airport.
Berlin has announced new measures against Moscow. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful has explained his decision to close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and terminate the agreement on the operation of the "Russian House" in Berlin.
According to him, these measures significantly reduce Russia's capabilities on German territory. Wadeful, in an interview with the ARD and ZDF television channels on September 1, said that Berlin's actions were a response to the conclusions about Russia's involvement in the attempted terrorist attack at the Leipzig/Halle airport.
"We must not allow the impression to arise in Russia that such actions can be carried out without a response from Germany," the German Foreign Minister said. He noted that the possibility of further escalation by Russia cannot be completely ruled out. However, if Germany did not take retaliatory measures, the risk that Moscow would see this as an opportunity for further actions against Germany would be even higher.
**Consulate in Bonn arouses suspicion**
Wadeful called the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn a measure that "seriously limits Russia's capabilities in Germany." The minister said that this diplomatic mission was widely used not only by the Russian Foreign Ministry, but also by other departments of the country. Therefore, the German side had no confidence that the consulate was not carrying out activities that could harm the country's security.
Touching upon the issue of the "Russian House" in Berlin, Wadeful said that this institution no longer fulfills its original mission. According to him, the center was originally supposed to serve the development of cultural relations between Russia and Germany, but now it is not fulfilling this function. In this regard, Germany has decided to terminate the agreement regulating its activities.
**Berlin also intends to increase pressure on the "shadow fleet"**
The German Foreign Minister also expressed his opinion on possible new measures against the Russian "shadow fleet". He said no firm decisions had been made yet, but Berlin intended to increase pressure and take additional measures. Wadeful said Germany was in talks with a number of countries that host or supply ships used to transport Russian oil in violation of sanctions.