German firms ask Merkel to stop US-led sanctions on Russia

German Chancellor Angela Merkel talked to President Barack Obama at the White House Friday under heavy pressure from her domestic business lobby to prevent further sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis. This drive is headed by chemical giant BASF SE, Siemens AG engineering group, Volkswagen AG, Adidas AG and Deutsche Bank AG. They fear damage to their business interests in Russia if the West escalates penalties from targeting individuals to complete economic sectors, as President Obama has threatened.