German media: in 2016 Putin promised not to use Siemens turbines in the Crimea
In September 2016, during a meeting in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised then Vice-Chancellor and current German Foreign Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, that Siemens turbines would not be sent to the Crimea, writes German publication Wirtschaftswoche , citing sources close to Gabriel.
According to this information, in addition to the two politicians, German Ambassador to Russia Rüdiger von Fritsch and representatives of the Russian president also attended the meeting. According to the newspaper's sources, Putin's promises were delivered to Siemens management.
The German Ministry of Economics did not confirm or deny this information. Putin's Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, also refrained from comments.
In early July, Russia, bypassing sanctions, delivered Siemens turbines to the Crimea. Initially, these turbines were purchased for use in Taman. In response to the supply of turbines to the Crimea, Siemens has stopped supplying power equipment to Russian state-owned companies.