Russia prepared to let tanks roll across European borders

Reuters: 14. April 2014

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel warned on possible outbreak of global war (!)

German Vice Chancellor and Economy and Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel (also Chairman of the German Social Democrats and SPD Bundestag faction) warned today of an escalation of the crisis in Ukraine, saying "Russia was clearly prepared to allow tanks to roll across European borders".

Speaking at an event in Berlin alongside new French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to commemorate World War One, Gabriel urged Europe to remember the lessons of the two world wars and not take freedom and security for granted.

The Ukraine crisis had shown that the old genie of geo-political power politics had been released from the bottle, Gabriel, who is also economy and energy minister, said.

A month earlier (during Russian invasion on Crimea), Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel advocated stand that Germany needs to rethink its energy strategy, and reduce its dependence on Russian gas imports.