Despite EU sanctions, Russia under cooperation between Putin and [[German]] Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] continued expanding economically into Western Europe.<ref>Strobel, Warren P. (March 11, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-economic-clout-in-europe-grows-despite-sanctions-study-says-11552333028 Russia’s Economic Clout in Europe Grows Despite Sanctions, Study Says]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.</ref> | Despite EU sanctions, Russia under cooperation between Putin and [[German]] Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] continued expanding economically into Western Europe.<ref>Strobel, Warren P. (March 11, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-economic-clout-in-europe-grows-despite-sanctions-study-says-11552333028 Russia’s Economic Clout in Europe Grows Despite Sanctions, Study Says]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.</ref> |