The Western countries are not interested in weakening Russia economically, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at the German-Russian conference Potsdam Meetings on Monday.
"Nobody is interested in seeing Russia collapse economically," the foreign minister said, focusing on anti-Russian sanctions. "This would not contribute to security in Europe," he noted.
"We must continue to insistently defend our positions if our principles are violated, but at the same time we must exert effort towards d·tente and search for a dialog," the foreign minister said focusing on the Ukrainian crisis.