In These New Times

 

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who met with the head of the IMF in Washington on Friday, echoed Lagarde’s sentiment.

There was currently little evidence to support “the numbers which are being circulated [in the media],” Steinmeier said.

Steinmeier further called on Russia to help the Ukrainian economy, which recently decided to freeze the multi-billion dollar loans package to Kyiv.

“The stabilization of Ukraine can only succeed if we bring as many partners as possible to the table,” the German foreign minister said.

After having dug a deep hole for themselves the Germans are engaging in the task of getting out of it. Russia hold all the cards and they have no choice but to recognize this reality.

While IMF urges calm over Ukraine economy, three countries freeze suspicious Ukrainian assets

Deutsche Welle

28th February

IMF chief Christine Lagarde has dismissed panic over Ukraine’s economy as premature. Her call for calm came as Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein said they were freezing assets held by roughly 20 Ukrainians.

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