June 21st, 2014
09:19 PM ET

German defense minister: Putin trampled on international rules

Fareed speaks with German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen about the situation in Ukraine and how to respond to Russia. Watch the full interview this Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET on CNN.

Do you believe that Vladimir Putin has been deterred, that Russia is now content with the situation in Ukraine as it is? What is your best information from the Russian-Ukrainian border?

Well, he didn't do that by chance. He didn’t do this annexation of Crimea out of the blue, but it seemed to have been a long-term strategic plan to have this intervention in Crimea to have the annexation of the Crimea. And all of a sudden it seems forgotten that Putin trampled on international rules and laws and ignored the sovereignty of Ukraine. So, we should not forget about that.

But something happened where I think Putin did not count on. All of a sudden, there was a growing solidarity and unity in the West, in NATO, Europe and America, to stop him by the means we chose that are economic sanctions. And I think this is the right way to go.

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Topics: GPS Show

soundoff (65 Responses)
  1. Non.Germany

    Before 9/11 Germany harbored anti-American terrorists, terrorists training and sleeping cells. Now German politicians have anti-american politics, incl. NSA anti-America investigatons.

    June 23, 2014 at 6:16 am |
  2. Allan

    ANOTHER biased report conveniently (and quickly) forgetting to mention anything about US intervention that sparked the whole situation in the Ukraine ! But if sucking up to the US gets bonus points so be it. Just wonder what the Europeans will think of having to pay more for US gas ?

    June 23, 2014 at 6:37 am |
    • Patrick

      Thank you, Allan. I was about to post the same statement. It's great to see that some people here are intelligent after seeing all those ignorant posts on this web page. Now, I expect to be trolled by some ignorant fool sooner or later!

      June 23, 2014 at 11:27 am |
  3. Steve

    Putin....

    Every move you make
    Every vow you break
    Every smile you fake
    Every claim you stake
    I'll be watching you

    June 23, 2014 at 8:41 am |
    • Joseph McCarthy

      Another ignorant poem from another lame-brained Tea Partier! That poem would do far better if addressed to the right-wing thugs in Washington instead of Vladimir Putin.

      June 23, 2014 at 9:02 am |
  4. Tom Posey

    Can anyone here blame this broad for feeling way she does? After all, Russia did invade and split Germany in two at the end of WW2.

    June 23, 2014 at 6:54 pm |
  5. chri§§y

    Might take you serious @ Tom if you hadnt called her a "broad" which is truly offensive!

    June 23, 2014 at 10:04 pm |
  6. a geman voice

    I am a German,
    and please, Don't think, that this stupid woman speaks in the name of the german people!

    I wish, our bad governance will be down.

    June 25, 2014 at 12:51 pm |
    • Marine5484

      Thank you, a german voice. As a German American myself, I wholeheartedly agree with you!

      June 25, 2014 at 5:02 pm |
  7. Joey Isotta-Fraschini@

    Good. Putin calls for talks.
    The force of sanctions would not be as effective without USA and allied potential for forces stronger than sanctions.
    It was nice to read this morning that USA missile-defense tests were reported to go well.

    June 23, 2014 at 4:55 am |
  8. Joey Isotta-Fraschini

    Now if we could only get the Ukrainian Army to quit murdering people in eastern Ukraine and Poroshenko to drop his stupid demand of unconditional surrender of that part of the country, maybe peace will have a chance there. Besides, the people in eastern Ukraine had their own plebiscite back on May 11 and Poroshenko needs to respect that!

    June 24, 2014 at 11:17 am |
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