(MENAFN) Michael Kretschmer, the prime minister of Saxony, reiterated his demand for a diplomatic resolution to the war in Ukraine the current week in an interview with the daily Die Zeit. He claimed that isolating Russia and stopping economic relations with Moscow is risky for Germany.

Kretschmer declared to the media source, “I think the idea of isolating Russia permanently or never again cooperating economically is absurd and dangerous… A Russia that is oriented towards China and has no ties to Europe is much more dangerous for us.”

The official expressed his concern about how the penalties against Russia would affect the German economy and energy security. The conflict in Ukraine should "freeze," he urged, adding that a ceasefire would not only put an end to the deaths but also " create an opportunity for the supply of raw materials," most notably fossil fuels and grains. He also called for "pragmatism" in relations with Moscow and for the European Union to facilitate peace talks.

A third of the energy used by German industry and over half of German homes' electrical and heating needs are met by gas. Before the crisis in Ukraine, Russia supplied up to half of that gas. Nevertheless, owing to political or technical issues, supplies have decreased during the past few weeks.

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