BERLIN, August 25. /ITAR-TASS/. Sanctions that the West has imposed on Russia in view of the Ukrainian crisis are useless and only raise tension, famous German politician Horst Teltschik told the German daily Neue Westfaelische in an interview on Monday.

Teltschik, who served as a counselor of former German head of state Helmut Kohl and chaired the Munich Conference on Security Policy during 1998-2008, believes that Russia cannot be punished by sanctions and urges the West to start dialogue and cooperation.

The US and NATO countries had better continue talks with Russia and include it into international anti-ballistic missile system, he said.

The political expert urged Germany to cooperate with France, Great Britain and Poland in establishing and promoting peace talks.

Germany as the biggest country in the heart of Europe is destined to be a leader and take responsibility for international political issues, however, it is not strong enough to manage it alone, Teltschik stressed.