Germany's Steinmeier fears sanctions could destabilise Russia

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed concern on Friday that EU sanctions against Moscow for its actions in Ukraine could destabilise Russia and warned against "turning the screw" any further.

The comments to German weekly Der Spiegel suggest a possible softening in the stance of Steinmeier, a member of the traditionally Russia-friendly Social Democrats (SPD) who has stuck closely to Chancellor Angela Merkel's tough line with Moscow until now.