The German Chancellor has accused Russia of standing in the way of Eastern European countries wanting to be close to the EU.<br /><br /> In an interview with Die Welt am Sonntag newspaper, Angela Merkel threatened “consequences” for what she called Moscow’s “violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.”<br /><br /> In Merkel’s view, Russia is “creating problems” for Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, who have all signed association agreements with the EU.<br /><br /> The German leader then moved on to criticise fellow EU member-states France and Italy for not having got their public finances in order. She said that the two countries attempts to reduce their deficits were “insufficient.”
