BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner has prepared companies for the fact that not all the consequences of the sanctions against Russia can be cushioned. “It will not be possible for the state to take on all the financial consequences of the sanctions and the tension with Russia, let alone compensate, it will only be possible to take precautions for individual areas or for consequences such as inflation,” said the FDP Politicians on Sunday in the ZDF program “Berlin direct”. “An individual compensation – that’s not financially feasible.” Overall, however, the economic effects are manageable because the bilateral trade volume with Russia is not that large.
Lindner defended that there were individual exceptions to the exclusion of Russia from the Swift banking communication system in order to be able to continue processing the payment for Russian raw material deliveries and therefore not to give Moscow any reason to stop gas deliveries, for example. “We have to be prepared for a very long phase, so we need staying power.
It is important for our resilience that we do not weaken our strategic position towards Putin ourselves,” he explained. Germany has large financial reserves and will position itself independently in terms of energy policy. “As of now, however, Putin could have tactical advantages. And that’s why we chose this path with Swift’s financial sanctions.”
When it came to the planned special fund for better equipment for the Bundeswehr, Lindner made it clear that the 100 billion euros were part of the announced goal of spending more than two percent of gross domestic product on defense capability in the future.
He asserted that, despite additional spending and economic risks, the two budgetary targets would remain in place: “The debt brake will be adhered to from next year.” And: “We will not raise taxes either.”/and/DP/stk