Germany Urges EU to Prepare Sanctions on Russia Over Navalny

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who is accused of slandering a Russian World War Two veteran, stands inside a defendant dock during a court hearing in Moscow, on Feb. 20, 2021. Press Service of Babushkinsky District Court of Moscow/Handout via Reuters

BRUSSELS—German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday urged his EU counterparts to give the green light to sanctions against Russian officials responsible for jailing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and cracking down on pro-democracy activists.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas speaks to the media as he arrives to attend an EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on Feb. 22, 2021. Yves Herman/Pool/Reuters