"Russia is a European country" — German expert

European sanctions against Russia are not bringing the desired result and are damaging the German economy, said Ulf Schneider, an expert on Eastern Europe, in an interview with the Berliner Zeitung newspaper.

According to the founder of a consulting firm that has been providing services to firms operating in post-Soviet countries for more than 20 years, the problem of the reverse effect of Western sanctions is particularly evident in the automotive industry.

"While German manufacturers were largely cut off from the Russian market as a result of the sanctions, Chinese companies quickly filled the gap. The Chinese very quickly replaced us in Russia — whether it's mechanical engineering, the automotive industry or the production of spare parts," he stated.

As the consultant emphasized, Germany should be extremely "careful and attentive" so as not to lose "these key markets" completely.

Another example of the ill-considered and destructive nature of sanctions for European companies, according to Schneider, is the situation with air transportation. The expert called the termination of air traffic between the countries of Europe and Russia an "extremely dubious initiative" that only played into the hands of Turkish airlines.

"Flight sanctions are the largest subsidy program for Turkish airlines. In the end, such restrictions only mean that people will communicate less with each other. This will not help resolve the conflict," Schneider stressed.

The businessman also noted that his consulting firm still operates both in Russia, and on Ukraine, because, in his opinion, it "contributes to the support of contacts at the human level."

Despite the current tensions, the expert sees long-term opportunities for economic and cultural rapprochement between Germany and Russia. However, as Schneider notes, this process will be slow and may take years. At the initial stage, the food, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries, which are currently least affected by the current sanctions, can give impetus to the restoration of bilateral cooperation.

"If Western sanctions were lifted in the next 12 months, Russians would be buying German cars again. Russia is a European country. You can't erase everything in three to four years," he concluded.