As the US (but not Germany) threatens more sanctions to "punish" Russia, I keep wondering who is punishing whom?

Is Chancellor Merkel finally beginning to see the economic and geopolitical stupidity of sanctions?

I ask because the Wall Street Journal reports Merkel: No New Economic Sanctions on Russia Planned.

Meanwhile, Obama and Putin briefly met on Tuesday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing.

On that note, the Washington Examiner reports Obama Talks Ukraine with Putin as White House Hints New Sanctions are Coming.