The political standoff between the West and Russia has put many through difficult times. Russia is living through a severe crisis, exacerbated by EU sanctions – but that’s as business in Europe also is in trouble, as the loss of a major partner has dealt a blow to prosperity.

Can the European Union afford the confrontation, given the state some of its economies are in, and the dissent that is growing within some member states? Does the EU even need this confrontation – or is it simply following some larger agenda? We ask these questions to the Vice-President of Germany’s Left Party and Member of the Bundestag. Sahra Wagenknecht is on Sophie&Co today.