Germany urges Central Asian states to comply with Russia sanctions

Germany has called on Central Asian countries to adhere to European Union sanctions against Russia, warning that attempts to circumvent restrictions undermine European security and indirectly support Moscow’s war effort.

Photo: AP

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said ahead of a meeting with the foreign ministers of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan that the region should support the European Union in enforcing sanctions against Russia and stand on Ukraine’s side. His remarks were reported by German broadcaster n-tv.

According to Wadephul, the European Union has imposed broad sanctions on Russia aimed at restraining what he described as Moscow’s “military machine.” However, he claimed that some Central Asian states have been enabling Russia to bypass European restrictions.

“Today, I want to make it clear: attempts to circumvent these sanctions support Russia’s war of aggression and thereby directly threaten the security interests of the European Union,” Wadephul said.

Uzbekistan–Germany dialogue in Berlin

On February 11, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with Wadephul in Berlin to discuss expanding the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Following the talks, Saidov said the sides aimed to further develop bilateral cooperation in key areas such as trade, energy and regional stability. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties through upcoming summits and initiatives, including the Uzbekistan–Germany Business Council.

“We look forward to advancing our cooperation and welcoming my colleague to Tashkent in the near future,” Saidov wrote after the meeting.