Warsaw accuses Paris, Berlin of being too close to Moscow
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Poland's deputy PM is concerned with Germany and Paris' decision to remain trade partners with Moscow despite the sanctions campaign against the latter.
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Warsaw accuses Paris and Berlin of being too close to Moscow.
In an interview published Sunday, Poland's deputy Prime Minister accused France and Germany of being too close to Russia, while condemning Berlin's approach toward Moscow before the special operation in Ukraine.
"Over the years, the German government did not want to see what Russia was doing under the leadership of Putin and we see the result today," Kaczynski said.
Read more: Poland eyes ending Russian oil imports, Germany warns on gas
"Poland is not pleased with Germany's role in Europe," he added.
He chastised Berlin for attempting to reconstruct what former 19th-century chancellor Otto von Bismarck "had done... German domination but side by side with Russia".
The Polish deputy PM reprimanded Berlin in particular for failing to send adequate weaponry to Ukraine and for refusing to impose an embargo on the import of Russian oil.
"It's important to know that Russia gets four to five times more revenue from its oil sales than gas sales," Kaczynski said.
"We cannot continue to permanently support a great power like Russia by paying it billions," he added.
Germany can't give up Russian energy
Although Germany and Qatar struck an agreement Sunday for a long-term energy partnership, Germany still holds the conviction that it is not able to abandon Russian oil, according to German government Spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit.
Hebestreit commented on media reports that the European Union is taking into consideration sanctions against Russian oil.
"The government remains convinced that it cannot refuse oil imports from Russia. This is the position of the government, there is no change in it, according to my information," Hebestreit told a briefing when asked whether Berlin will disregard sanctions against Russian oil amid reports that such a decision is on the table at the EU.
Read more: Russia is a vital trading partner, not an ally: German Gov
Before Russia's special operation on February 24, Germany imported 55% of its natural gas, half of its coal, and around 35% of its oil from Russia.
