German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Saturday he favoured easing some sanctions imposed on Russia if a ceasefire could be implemented in eastern Ukraine with the help of UN peacekeepers.

Gabriel said it was &quot;not realistic&quot; to insist on full implementation of the Minsk peace accords before offering some sanctions relief.&nbsp;

He said he realised his view differed from the official position - that sanctions could only be eased when the Minsk peace accord was fully implemented - but said it was in the world`s interests to break the current impasse.

A Russia-backed separatist insurgency led to fighting in eastern Ukraine that has killed around 10,000 people since 2014.&nbsp;

While the Kremlin denies providing military support for separatists there, the European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on Russia for backing the rebels and for annexing Crimea from Ukraine.

Full-scale combat largely ended in 2015 after France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine sponsored a ceasefire agreement in the Belarus capital Minsk, but casualties are still reported on a near-daily basis.

Russia last proposed bringing UN&nbsp;peacekeeping forces into eastern Ukraine.&nbsp;

Gabriel said that, while there were fundamental differences over that plan, it was &quot;one of the few realistic options&quot; for trying to end the violence, and Germany would push for progress on it at the United Nations.

&quot;We need progress urgently because the world is becoming more dangerous,&quot; Gabriel told a meeting also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a Security Conference in Munich.

Russia was an indispensable partner in global efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Gabriel added, citing North Korea`s efforts to develop a nuclear capability.&nbsp;

Gabriel, a former economy minister, and Lavrov said they aimed to expand bilateral trade, which rose 20 percent last year.

The two ministers are due to hold a face-to-face meeting later on Saturday, but plans for a four-way meeting on the Ukraine crisis on Friday also including France and Ukraine collapsed after a scheduling conflict.

Gabriel also defended plans for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that would connect Germany and Russia under the Baltic Sea, a project bitterly opposed by Poland, Ukraine and Baltic states on concerns it would increase Europe`s dependence on Russian gas and could cut off Ukraine from gas transit fees.

He said Germany intended to ensure continued use of the existing transit pipeline through Ukraine, and he believed Russia was open to that possibility.

The United States last month said it viewed Nord Stream 2 as a threat to Europe`s energy security.&nbsp;

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Saturday he favoured easing some sanctions imposed on Russia if a ceasefire could be implemented in eastern Ukraine with the help of UN peacekeepers

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Saturday he favoured easing some sanctions imposed on Russia if a ceasefire could be implemented in eastern Ukraine with the help of UN peacekeepers. Gabriel said it was "not realistic" to insist on full implementation of the Minsk peace accords before offering some sanctions relief. He said he realised his view differed from the official position - that sanctions could only be eased when the Minsk peace accord was fully implemented - but said it was in the world`s interests to break the current impasse. A Russia-backed separatist insurgency led to fighting in eastern Ukraine that has killed around 10,000 people since 2014. While the Kremlin denies providing military support for separatists there, the European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on Russia for backing the rebels and for annexing Crimea from Ukraine. Full-scale combat largely ended in 2015 after France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine sponsored a ceasefire agreement in the Belarus capital Minsk, but casualties are still reported on a near-daily basis. Russia last proposed bringing UN peacekeeping forces into eastern Ukraine. Gabriel said that, while there were fundamental differences over that plan, it was "one of the few realistic options" for trying to end the violence, and Germany would push for progress on it at the United Nations. "We need progress urgently because the world is becoming more dangerous," Gabriel told a meeting also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a Security Conference in Munich. Russia was an indispensable partner in global efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Gabriel added, citing North Korea`s efforts to develop a nuclear capability. Gabriel, a former economy minister, and Lavrov said they aimed to expand bilateral trade, which rose 20 percent last year. The two ministers are due to hold a face-to-face meeting later on Saturday, but plans for a four-way meeting on the Ukraine crisis on Friday also including France and Ukraine collapsed after a scheduling conflict. Gabriel also defended plans for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that would connect Germany and Russia under the Baltic Sea, a project bitterly opposed by Poland, Ukraine and Baltic states on concerns it would increase Europe`s dependence on Russian gas and could cut off Ukraine from gas transit fees. He said Germany intended to ensure continued use of the existing transit pipeline through Ukraine, and he believed Russia was open to that possibility. The United States last month said it viewed Nord Stream 2 as a threat to Europe`s energy security.

Ukraine progress should soften sanctions on Russia - Germany FM

Europe must lead the way in pushing for nuclear disarmament after Washington proposed upgrading and expanding the United States` nuclear arsenal, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Sunday.

&quot;As in the times of the Cold War, we in Europe are especially endangered&quot; by &quot;a renewed nuclear arms race&quot;, Gabriel said.

&quot;That is why precisely we in Europe must begin new initiatives for arms control and disarmament.&quot;

Gabriel was responding to a so-called Nuclear Posture Review released Friday by the Pentagon that details the US military`s vision of nuclear threats and its response in the coming decades.

Upgrading the US arsenal and complementing massive &quot;strategic&quot; bombs with smaller &quot;tactical&quot; weapons was &quot;aimed at making use of nuclear weapons less likely&quot;, President Donald Trump said in a statement.

American nuclear planners believe potential adversaries abroad, especially Russia, assume America would never use its existing arsenal as the effects would be too devastating and provoke globally catastrophic retaliation.

&quot;The US and NATO require a wider range of credible low-yield nuclear options&quot; to deter Russia from using its own smaller nuclear weapons, Greg Weaver, the deputy director of strategic capabilities for the military`s Joint Staff, told reporters Friday.

Gabriel acknowledged that Russia`s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine had led to a &quot;dramatic loss of trust towards Russia&quot; in Europe as well as Washington, and that &quot;signs that Russia is re-arming, not only conventionally but with nuclear weapons, are obvious&quot;.

But instead of developing new weapons, Germany`s top diplomat called for &quot;existing arms control treaties to be upheld unconditionally&quot;.

Berlin would press &quot;with its allies and partners&quot; for further worldwide disarmament, he said.

&quot;Our long-term aim must continue to be a world without nuclear weapons,&quot; Gabriel continued -- the stated aim of US nuclear policy under former president Barack Obama.

Historically a close US ally and key NATO member, nuclear weapons were a divisive issue in Germany`s Cold War politics.

Berlin does not have its own arsenal, but the Pentagon maintained nuclear warheads in Germany as part of a gigantic military presence designed to deter Soviet invasion of western Europe.

The issue has been rediscovered by frontline politicians in the wake of Trump`s election.

Martin Schulz, a failed challenger to Chancellor Angela Merkel in elections last September, called during the campaign for remaining American bombs to be removed from Germany.

The German response to the US nuclear review comes on the heels of condemnations from Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

'As in the times of the Cold War, we in Europe are especially endangered' by 'a renewed nuclear arms race', Sigmar Gabriel said

Europe must lead the way in pushing for nuclear disarmament after Washington proposed upgrading and expanding the United States` nuclear arsenal, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Sunday. "As in the times of the Cold War, we in Europe are especially endangered" by "a renewed nuclear arms race", Gabriel said. "That is why precisely we in Europe must begin new initiatives for arms control and disarmament." Gabriel was responding to a so-called Nuclear Posture Review released Friday by the Pentagon that details the US military`s vision of nuclear threats and its response in the coming decades. Upgrading the US arsenal and complementing massive "strategic" bombs with smaller "tactical" weapons was "aimed at making use of nuclear weapons less likely", President Donald Trump said in a statement. American nuclear planners believe potential adversaries abroad, especially Russia, assume America would never use its existing arsenal as the effects would be too devastating and provoke globally catastrophic retaliation. "The US and NATO require a wider range of credible low-yield nuclear options" to deter Russia from using its own smaller nuclear weapons, Greg Weaver, the deputy director of strategic capabilities for the military`s Joint Staff, told reporters Friday. Gabriel acknowledged that Russia`s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine had led to a "dramatic loss of trust towards Russia" in Europe as well as Washington, and that "signs that Russia is re-arming, not only conventionally but with nuclear weapons, are obvious". But instead of developing new weapons, Germany`s top diplomat called for "existing arms control treaties to be upheld unconditionally". Berlin would press "with its allies and partners" for further worldwide disarmament, he said. "Our long-term aim must continue to be a world without nuclear weapons," Gabriel continued -- the stated aim of US nuclear policy under former president Barack Obama. Historically a close US ally and key NATO member, nuclear weapons were a divisive issue in Germany`s Cold War politics. Berlin does not have its own arsenal, but the Pentagon maintained nuclear warheads in Germany as part of a gigantic military presence designed to deter Soviet invasion of western Europe. The issue has been rediscovered by frontline politicians in the wake of Trump`s election. Martin Schulz, a failed challenger to Chancellor Angela Merkel in elections last September, called during the campaign for remaining American bombs to be removed from Germany. The German response to the US nuclear review comes on the heels of condemnations from Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

Europe must brake mounting nuclear arms race: Germany

The European Union will invite Iran&#39;s foreign minister for talks about the recent anti-government protests that have hit the country, Germany&#39;s Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Sunday.

&quot;Together with the EU&#39;s foreign policy chief (Federica Mogherini), we agreed to invite the Iranian foreign minister, if possible next week,&quot; Gabriel told German public broadcaster ZDF, without giving further details.&nbsp;

21 people have died and hundreds arrested since December 28 as protests over economic woes turned against the Iranian regime as a whole, with attacks on government buildings and police stations.

&quot;We very quickly affirmed that we support the freedom to demonstrate and that the state should support this,&quot; Gabriel said.

At the same time, Gabriel said Berlin will not follow the lead of US President Donald Trump, who pledged to help Iranians &quot;take back&quot; their government.

Trump also seized on the recent unrest to again slam a multiparty nuclear deal with Iran as deeply flawed.

Germany, as well as France, has &quot;warned against attempts at instrumentalising the domestic conflicts in Iran,&quot; said Gabriel.

The US on Friday took the Iran protests to the UN Security Council, where deep divisions emerged over the issue, with Russia arguing the demonstrations posed no threat to international peace and security.

21 people have died and hundreds arrested since December 28 as protests over economic woes turned against the Iranian regime

The European Union will invite Iran's foreign minister for talks about the recent anti-government protests that have hit the country, Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Sunday. "Together with the EU's foreign policy chief (Federica Mogherini), we agreed to invite the Iranian foreign minister, if possible next week," Gabriel told German public broadcaster ZDF, without giving further details. 21 people have died and hundreds arrested since December 28 as protests over economic woes turned against the Iranian regime as a whole, with attacks on government buildings and police stations. "We very quickly affirmed that we support the freedom to demonstrate and that the state should support this," Gabriel said. At the same time, Gabriel said Berlin will not follow the lead of US President Donald Trump, who pledged to help Iranians "take back" their government. Trump also seized on the recent unrest to again slam a multiparty nuclear deal with Iran as deeply flawed. Germany, as well as France, has "warned against attempts at instrumentalising the domestic conflicts in Iran," said Gabriel. The US on Friday took the Iran protests to the UN Security Council, where deep divisions emerged over the issue, with Russia arguing the demonstrations posed no threat to international peace and security.

European Union to invite Iran Foreign Minister for talks over protests

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump are supporting the anti-government protests in Iran, Turkey&#39;s foreign minister was quoted as saying by broadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday.

Mevlut Cavusoglu was also cited as saying that Turkey was against foreign interventions in Iran.

Cavusoglu said Turkey had not made any assurances to the United States in the resolution of a months-long row which had led to the two countries suspending visa services, CNN Turk said.

It said Cavusoglu would meet his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.

Mevlut Cavusoglu was also cited as saying that Turkey was against foreign interventions in Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are supporting the anti-government protests in Iran, Turkey's foreign minister was quoted as saying by broadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday. Mevlut Cavusoglu was also cited as saying that Turkey was against foreign interventions in Iran. Cavusoglu said Turkey had not made any assurances to the United States in the resolution of a months-long row which had led to the two countries suspending visa services, CNN Turk said. It said Cavusoglu would meet his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.

Netanyahu, Trump supporting Iran protests: Turkey

An EU agreement with Britain on relations after Brexit could serve as a model for ties with other countries that want to be as close as possible to the bloc but are not yet ready to join, such as Ukraine and Turkey, Germany&#39;s foreign minister said.

Britain secured the go-ahead from Brussels to start talks on its future relationship with the EU earlier this month, with London saying it aspires to a closer relationship as a former member than that of any other third country.

In an interview with the Funke newspaper group published on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said such a deal could offer a solution to the puzzle of how the bloc of 27 can manage its ties with two other large non-members.

&quot;I can&#39;t imagine Turkey or Ukraine becoming EU members in the next few years,&quot; he said. &quot;If we get a smart agreement with Britain regulating relations with Europe after Brexit, that could be a model for other countries - Ukraine and also Turkey.&quot;

Turkey, a candidate for EU membership for decades, already has a customs union with the EU which allows the trade of most goods without tariffs.

One possibility would be to offer Ankara a &quot;new, closer form of the customs union&quot;, Gabriel said, although he also said such a project would have to wait for changes in Turkey&#39;s political environment.

Thousands of people, including German citizens, have been detained in Turkey as part of a government crackdown since a failed coup in 2016.

An agreement between the EU and Ukraine on a &quot;deep and comprehensive free trade area&quot; formally came into force in September, aimed at allowing free trade of goods, services and capital, and visa-free travel for people for short stays.

Ukraine&#39;s desire for closer ties with the EU was one of the driving forces behind a popular revolt that toppled a pro-Russian president in 2014, leading Moscow to seize Ukraine&#39;s Crimea peninsula and back pro-Russian separatists in a still-unresolved conflict in the east of the country.

Gabriel&#39;s Social Democratic Party (SPD) is preparing for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel`s conservatives on governing together for another four years.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said such a deal could offer a solution to the puzzle of how the bloc of 27 can manage its ties with two other large non-members.

An EU agreement with Britain on relations after Brexit could serve as a model for ties with other countries that want to be as close as possible to the bloc but are not yet ready to join, such as Ukraine and Turkey, Germany's foreign minister said. Britain secured the go-ahead from Brussels to start talks on its future relationship with the EU earlier this month, with London saying it aspires to a closer relationship as a former member than that of any other third country. In an interview with the Funke newspaper group published on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said such a deal could offer a solution to the puzzle of how the bloc of 27 can manage its ties with two other large non-members. "I can't imagine Turkey or Ukraine becoming EU members in the next few years," he said. "If we get a smart agreement with Britain regulating relations with Europe after Brexit, that could be a model for other countries - Ukraine and also Turkey." Turkey, a candidate for EU membership for decades, already has a customs union with the EU which allows the trade of most goods without tariffs. One possibility would be to offer Ankara a "new, closer form of the customs union", Gabriel said, although he also said such a project would have to wait for changes in Turkey's political environment. Thousands of people, including German citizens, have been detained in Turkey as part of a government crackdown since a failed coup in 2016. An agreement between the EU and Ukraine on a "deep and comprehensive free trade area" formally came into force in September, aimed at allowing free trade of goods, services and capital, and visa-free travel for people for short stays. Ukraine's desire for closer ties with the EU was one of the driving forces behind a popular revolt that toppled a pro-Russian president in 2014, leading Moscow to seize Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and back pro-Russian separatists in a still-unresolved conflict in the east of the country. Gabriel's Social Democratic Party (SPD) is preparing for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel`s conservatives on governing together for another four years.

Brexit deal could be template for EU ties to Ukraine, Turkey: German foreign minister

The top diplomats of Germany and Turkey on Saturday met for previously unannounced talks in a southern Turkish resort, as a range of bitter rows strain ties between the two NATO allies.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hosted German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel for the informal talks in Antalya, both sides said in statements on Twitter.

Berlin has been outraged by the detention of German nationals under Turkey&#39;s state of emergency imposed after last year&#39;s failed coup, while Ankara has accused Germany of meddling in its affairs.

The meeting is the first between the two diplomats since tensions reached a new peak in the run-up to the German elections on September 24.

&quot;I met my colleague @sigmargabriel in Antalya informally to discuss bilateral relations; including the difficult issues and mutual expectations,&quot; Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

The German foreign ministry issued a similar statement.

Pictures showed the two men, dressed in jackets without ties, chatting informally under blue skies in Antalya, Cavusoglu&#39;s home region.

The meeting comes just over a week after German activist Peter Steudtner was released following his arrest along with members of Amnesty International in July on disputed terror charges.

Another German citizen, who was not identified, was also released in a separate case but cannot leave the country, the German foreign ministry said Friday.

But nine Germans still remain behind bars in Turkey including most prominently Die Welt daily correspondent Deniz Yucel, who was arrested in February, and German journalist Mesale Tolu.

Gabriel had last month thanked former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who retains warm personal ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for helping broker the releases.

But Ankara denied any such deal.

The tensions have risen into one of the worst ever crises between Turkey and Germany, which is home to a large Turkish minority. Berlin has repeatedly expressed scepticism about the future of Turkey&#39;s EU membership bid.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged a cut in EU funding linked to Turkey&#39;s membership talks to signal the bloc&#39;s unhappiness over the crackdown in the wake of the failed July 2016 coup.

The top diplomats of Germany and Turkey on Saturday met for previously unannounced talks in a southern Turkish resort, as a range of bitter rows strain ties between the two NATO allies

The top diplomats of Germany and Turkey on Saturday met for previously unannounced talks in a southern Turkish resort, as a range of bitter rows strain ties between the two NATO allies. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hosted German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel for the informal talks in Antalya, both sides said in statements on Twitter. Berlin has been outraged by the detention of German nationals under Turkey's state of emergency imposed after last year's failed coup, while Ankara has accused Germany of meddling in its affairs. The meeting is the first between the two diplomats since tensions reached a new peak in the run-up to the German elections on September 24. "I met my colleague @sigmargabriel in Antalya informally to discuss bilateral relations; including the difficult issues and mutual expectations," Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter. The German foreign ministry issued a similar statement. Pictures showed the two men, dressed in jackets without ties, chatting informally under blue skies in Antalya, Cavusoglu's home region. The meeting comes just over a week after German activist Peter Steudtner was released following his arrest along with members of Amnesty International in July on disputed terror charges. Another German citizen, who was not identified, was also released in a separate case but cannot leave the country, the German foreign ministry said Friday. But nine Germans still remain behind bars in Turkey including most prominently Die Welt daily correspondent Deniz Yucel, who was arrested in February, and German journalist Mesale Tolu. Gabriel had last month thanked former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who retains warm personal ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for helping broker the releases. But Ankara denied any such deal. The tensions have risen into one of the worst ever crises between Turkey and Germany, which is home to a large Turkish minority. Berlin has repeatedly expressed scepticism about the future of Turkey's EU membership bid. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged a cut in EU funding linked to Turkey's membership talks to signal the bloc's unhappiness over the crackdown in the wake of the failed July 2016 coup.

Germany, Turkey top diplomats hold talks amid tensions

German vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said in an interview on Saturday that Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives had &quot;underestimated&quot; the challenge of migrant influx. 
 
Gabriel is the leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) -- the junior coalition partner in Merkel&#39;s government -- and his comments come as campaigning begins for a federal election next year and regional elections in Berlin and the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 
 
Hundreds of thousands of migrants from West Asia, Africa and elsewhere flocked to Germany last year. There is an increasing concern about integrating the migrant population into the German society and the labour market.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I, we always said that it&#39;s inconceivable for Germany to take in a million people every year,&quot; Gabriel said in an interview with broadcaster ZDF. 
 
&quot;There is an upper limit to a country&#39;s integration ability,&quot; he added at a news conference on Sunday. 
 
Gabriel also criticised Merkel&#39;s catchphrase &quot;Wir schaffen das&quot; (&quot;We can do this&quot;), which she used at a news conference this July after a string of attacks on civilians. Two of the attacks have been claimed by the Islamic State.&nbsp; 
 
Rejecting Gabriel&#39;s criticism, Merkel said she was open to changes in the EU&#39;s planned quota system which aims to transfer of about 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy to other EU states. However, she added it was important to work hard with state and municipal authorities and also share responsibility.&nbsp; 
 
It would not be acceptable, Merkel said, for governments to say: &quot;We don&#39;t generally want to have Muslims in our country.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

'There is an upper limit to a country's integration ability,' said vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel

German vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said in an interview on Saturday that Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives had "underestimated" the challenge of migrant influx. Gabriel is the leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) -- the junior coalition partner in Merkel's government -- and his comments come as campaigning begins for a federal election next year and regional elections in Berlin and the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Hundreds of thousands of migrants from West Asia, Africa and elsewhere flocked to Germany last year. There is an increasing concern about integrating the migrant population into the German society and the labour market. "I, we always said that it's inconceivable for Germany to take in a million people every year," Gabriel said in an interview with broadcaster ZDF. "There is an upper limit to a country's integration ability," he added at a news conference on Sunday. Gabriel also criticised Merkel's catchphrase "Wir schaffen das" ("We can do this"), which she used at a news conference this July after a string of attacks on civilians. Two of the attacks have been claimed by the Islamic State. Rejecting Gabriel's criticism, Merkel said she was open to changes in the EU's planned quota system which aims to transfer of about 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy to other EU states. However, she added it was important to work hard with state and municipal authorities and also share responsibility. It would not be acceptable, Merkel said, for governments to say: "We don't generally want to have Muslims in our country." (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Merkel deputy: She underestimated migrant challenge

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