Following a phone conversation between Presidents Trump and Putin, Germany is advocating for new EU sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector, seeking US support despite reported reluctance from Washington.
After a call between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Germany has announced its support for additional EU sanctions against Russia, specifically targeting the energy sector. Berlin is seeking backing from Washington for these measures, although reports suggest Trump is hesitant to increase pressure on Moscow.
German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius stated at a press briefing on Monday that Berlin “supports the elements [of sanctions] related to Nord Stream,” and emphasized the importance of US support for any potential sanctions package: “It is, of course, also crucial that the US will accompany a potential sanctions package.”
The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which run under the Baltic Sea connecting Russia and Germany, have been out of service since 2022 due to EU sanctions and alleged sabotage, which Russia attributes to Western intelligence agencies.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated last week that the next set of EU sanctions would target Russia’s financial institutions, a fleet of ships evading oil restrictions, and the Nord Stream infrastructure. The aim, according to her, is to push Moscow to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.
Moscow has indicated its openness to a ceasefire “in principle” but voiced concerns that it would primarily benefit Ukraine by allowing its weakened forces to reorganize. Russia has also dismissed the Western sanctions as illegitimate, while maintaining that its economy has adapted to Western pressure over time.
These comments from the German official follow a closely watched two-hour phone discussion between Putin and Trump.
Putin described the call as “substantive and quite candid,” and stated Russia’s willingness to collaborate with Kiev in drafting a memorandum for a possible future peace agreement. Trump characterized the call as “excellent,” noting that “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire and, more importantly, an end to the war.”
The Financial Times reported that European leaders were “stunned” by Trump’s reaction, citing an informed source. The report suggested that the US president is apparently “not ready to put greater pressure” on Putin and made no commitments regarding future punitive measures.
FT sources further indicated that Trump conveyed his intention to “pull the US back from engaging with the conflict and leave Ukraine and Russia to directly negotiate a ceasefire.”
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