Germany sticks to Russia sanctions after Trump's diesel deal with Putin
The U.S. plans to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian diesel. Berlin says it is keeping its sanctions in place, and an industry group expects little impact on German fuel prices.
Symbolic image · Photo: Simon Bierwald from Dortmund, Germany / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal for deliveries of hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Washington temporarily lifting sanctions. The Kremlin confirmed the agreement. Trump faces pressure over high fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections.
German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said Berlin had "taken note" of the U.S. decision and was sticking to its sanctions against Russia. "Support for Ukraine in its defensive struggle remains unbroken," he said. A spokesperson for Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said Germany stood "unreservedly" behind the sanctions packages. According to the government, Germany has not imported Russian oil or oil products since 2023.
The Fuels und Energie industry association said it expects no significant effect on prices in Germany, since the EU ban on Russian diesel imports in force since February 2023 remains in place. The EU sharply criticized the deal, saying it gives Moscow extra revenue for its war.