Fact check: Obama wanted to sanction Russia after it annexed Crimea in 2014, but Germany lobbied against it.

1. Summary of the results

The statement is partially accurate but oversimplifies a complex diplomatic situation. President Obama did indeed want to sanction Russia and took concrete action by issuing an Executive Order that imposed sanctions on specific Russian government officials and Putin's inner circle after the Crimea annexation ^[1]. These were described as "the most comprehensive sanctions placed on Russia since the Cold War" ^[2]. While Germany's specific "lobbying against" sanctions isn't directly confirmed, sources indicate there were broader challenges in securing European support, particularly from countries with significant economic ties to Russia ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

• The sanctions that were implemented specifically targeted individuals like Vladislav Surkov and Sergey Glazyev, rather than being broad economic sanctions ^[1]
• Obama's approach included both diplomatic efforts and warnings to Putin about "political and economic isolation" before implementing sanctions ^[4]
• Despite the sanctions being implemented, they ultimately failed to prevent Russia's formal annexation of Crimea on March 18, 2014 ^[4]
• The economic relationship between Germany and Russia was significantly impacted, as Russia and Ukraine became less important trading partners for Germany after 2014 ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement presents a potentially misleading binary scenario that doesn't capture the complexity of international relations:

• It suggests a simple Obama vs. Germany dynamic, when in reality there were broader challenges with multiple European allies ^[3]
• It overlooks the fact that sanctions were actually implemented, albeit perhaps not as comprehensively as initially intended ^[2]
• The statement fails to acknowledge that economic considerations were more complex than simple opposition, as demonstrated by the eventual reduction in German-Russian trade relations ^[5]

Those who might benefit from this oversimplified narrative include:

• Critics of German-Russian relations who wish to portray Germany as soft on Russia
• Those seeking to downplay the actual sanctions that were implemented
• Parties interested in creating tension between the US and European allies