Obama, Merkel threaten to impose new sectoral sanctions on Russia
2 May 2014, 20:59 -- President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel mounted a display of trans-Atlantic unity Friday against an assertive Russia, even as sanctions imposed by Western allies seemed to be doing little to change Vladimir Putin's behavior toward Ukraine.
Days after the United States and the European Union imposed a new round of sanctions on Moscow, Merkel arrived at the White House for meetings and a working lunch with Obama. The German chancellor came buoyed by a decisive re-election victory late last year but facing pressure from all sides as Europe seeks to show resolve against Russia on Ukraine without harming its own economic interests.
According to Associated Press, as the crisis in Ukraine has worsened, Merkel has spoken to Putin perhaps more frequently than has any other European leader, hence making the US see her as a critical channel of communication, as well as a key player in the effort to prevent other EU nations from going soft on sanctions.
Both President Obama and Chancellor Merkel told reporters from the White House rose garden that while a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis is preferred, further steps with regards to sectoral measures in the context of certain branches of industry could soon be announced.
Such sanctions, Obama said, would 'further impact Russia's growth and economy' and be aimed at any of several sectors. At the same time, however, he said his administration hopes imposing further sanctions won't be required.
The two leaders met as the European Union announced it would hold talks with Ukraine and Russia later this month on the price of natural gas, an attempt to avoid any disruption in supplies. Moscow recently hiked the price of gas shipped to Ukraine to $485 per thousand cubic meters from $268.50, and threatened to limit deliveries if Kiev does not meet the new price and repay a debt of $3.5 billion.
A troubled EU-US trade agreement, known as the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, is also on the agenda, as well as joint efforts to deal with climate change, Syria's civil war and nuclear negotiations with Iran, said Laura Magnuson of the White House's National Security Council.
But the German leader may also be bringing her concerns over US spying programs - an issue that's continued to erode the US-German relationship despite Obama's assurances that the National Security Agency would stop eavesdropping on Merkel's cellphone. The issue has aggravated German citizens, prompting calls for Berlin to strike some type of agreement with Washington to limit US surveillance on German soil.
Another potential wrinkle: A German parliamentary panel probing the NSA issue is eager to invite former NSA contractor Edward Snowden to speak to the panel. The German government has made clear it opposes the idea of letting Snowden, whose US passport has been revoked, testify in Berlin, drawing criticism from the opposition.
Merkel will also speak to the US Chamber of Commerce on Friday, focusing on the fledgling trade agreement and US-European economic ties.
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