German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble ruled out in remarks published on Wednesday any softening of international sanctions against Russia, dpa reported.
'Of course we are concerned about the developments in Russia,' Schaeuble told the Rheinische Post newspaper, adding that it was up to the Russian government to prevent a default.
'I hope every day that Russia will return to cooperation with the West, but until then we are sticking to the sanctions,' the finance minister said.