Germany and France oppose stricter sanctions against Russia

Germany and France oppose stricter sanctions against Russia for attacking and capturing three Ukrainian Navy boats on Sunday, Germany’s Die Welt newspaper reports. U.S. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert says Europe should enforce existing sanctions and should think hard about the Nord Stream 2 gas line linking Germany and Russia. Concorde Capital’s Zenon Zawada writes: “Sanctions enforcement is realistic, as well as a new round of sanctions. But abandoning Nord Stream 2 is a bit unrealistic, considering how much has been invested in it so far, particularly by German interests.”