German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany and the EU won’t follow Trump’s lead on Russian diesel, calls for tougher sanctions against Moscow

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany and the European Union do not intend to follow the U.S. example by entering into a deal with Russia for diesel supplies, according to Der Spiegel. Chancellor Merz expressed that such an arrangement would be unacceptable for Germany and Europe. He emphasized that Russia would only engage in serious negotiations under pressure, hence the maintenance of sanctions against Moscow.

Merz pointed out that Russia had responded to Donald Trump's proposal for an energy ceasefire with intensified strikes on Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure. Consequently, Merz argued that sanctions against Russia must be intensified further, and Berlin will continue to support Kyiv.

The criticism of Trump's deal with Russia, according to Merz, extends beyond him and his fellow Christian Democratic Union (CDU) members. Der Spiegel quoted Green Party co-leader Franziska Brantner as expressing strong disapproval, saying, "First start a war against Iran with no discernible plan, driving up energy prices worldwide — and then make a deal with Putin, who started the war, to cushion the fallout before the U.S. midterms — it doesn’t get more unscrupulous than that."

Chancellor Merz finds himself in a precarious position: His approval rating has plummeted to a record low, and his CDU is experiencing setbacks in regional elections. During a speech criticizing Trump's deal with Russia, Merz reiterated his promise to reduce the electricity tax for all German citizens to the minimum permitted by the EU. This commitment was made to voters before the February 2025 Bundestag elections, but as of now, it remains unfulfilled.