Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 9, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 9, 2026
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will discuss energy and sanctions with Central Asian countries, focusing on EU measures and trade impacts.
BERLIN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will meet his counterparts from Central Asian countries in Berlin on Wednesday, said a ministry spokesperson, with themes including energy and Russian sanctions circumvention on the agenda.
The 20th EU sanctions package against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine could see measures imposed on Central Asian states such as Kyrgyzstan for the first time, as companies from some of these countries are accused of systematically purchasing goods from the bloc and then reselling them to Russia.
As a result, Germany's trade volume with countries such as Kyrgyzstan has significantly increased since the 2022 invasion.
Wadephul will meet with the foreign ministers from Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the spokesperson said on Monday.
The spokesperson did not want to say whether Germany supports EU sanctions against these countries.
"Central Asian states are increasingly important partners for us on many current issues," including energy diversification, resource security, climate change and measures against Russian sanctions circumvention, the spokesperson said.
The German economy is also interested in raw materials from countries such as Kazakhstan.
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Linda Pasquini, editing by Miranda Murray)
Sanctions are restrictive measures imposed by countries or international organizations to influence or penalize a nation, organization, or individual. They can include trade restrictions, financial penalties, and other economic measures.
Energy diversification refers to the strategy of using a variety of energy sources to reduce dependence on a single source. This can enhance energy security and stability in supply.
Resource security is the assurance that a country has access to the necessary resources, such as energy and raw materials, to meet its economic and social needs.
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