German-Russian trade grows despite sanctions

Germany’s investment in Russia hit its highest level in a decade last year. However, a new survey of German companies suggests something of a lottery when it comes to operating in the country. A third of the firms say the business climate in Russia has worsened over the past year. But around the same proportion say things have improved. Key complaints are excessive bureaucracy and a weak economy. Russia’s economic growth of 1.7% in the third quarter of this year is below what’s needed to meet President Putin’s target of expanding faster than the global average by 2025.