KOTRÉ: SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA HAVE WORSENED GERMANY'S DEINDUSTRIALIZATION

ST. PETERSBURG, JUNE 7 /SRNA–RIA Novosti/ – German companies would resume doing business with Russia if they were able to do so, but refrain from it because of pressure from other Western countries, said Steffen Kotré, a member of the German Bundestag from Alternative for Germany /AfD/.

Kotré stated that the consequences of such a policy are very serious.

“On the one hand, there is a failed energy transition that is driving up energy prices. On the other hand, the interruption of supplies from Russia, which had always been relatively inexpensive, is also leading to higher energy costs,” Kotré said.

According to him, the result has been catastrophic deindustrialization.

“Since 2018, we have lost more than 15 percent of our industrial production. This is a catastrophic trend - deindustrialization caused by high energy prices,” Kotré stressed.

He added that other factors have also played a role, but that sanctions are further aggravating the situation and causing substantial losses for German companies.