Russia Blasts Germany for Blocking a Major Defense Deal Over Crimea

Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov blasted Germany on Sunday for stopping a significant arms deal because of Moscow’s annexation of Crimea.

“We consider that the decisions of the German side were taken under pressure and to be unconstructive,” Antonov said, according to the Interfax news agency.

Berlin halted the $140 million contract for German defense group Rheinmetall to build a training camp for Russian forces on Wednesday, saying that it would be “indefensible” to continue with any military deals in the current context.

Antonov claimed that both Berlin and Paris, who said Friday that it had barred most military cooperation with Russia, were unduly influenced by the United States.

“It’s obvious that the notorious ‘Atlantic solidarity’ prompted our French and German partners to make loud statements on Russia,” he said.

[AFP]