Mirror’s ‘transit deal’… EU: Stop sanctions, finance war

On the 10th (local time), the European Union (EU) criticized the United States for temporarily easing sanctions on Russian diesel, saying it was aiding Russia's war.

Kaya Callas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, pointed out on social media on the 10th (local time), "Russian airstrikes killed about 80 Ukrainians over two days, and Russia has been strengthening its hybrid attacks against Europe, an EU member state and NATO ally."

“Suspending sanctions on Russian diesel will give Russia more revenue to wage war,” Kalas said. “Now is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe will not do that.”

Representative Kallas also said, "On Monday (12th) EU foreign ministers intend to approve the largest list of sanctions since the start of the war targeting Russia's war effort."

The day before, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel on a large scale to the U.S. and global markets, and the U.S. government announced a temporary relaxation of sanctions against Russia, allowing the import of Russian diesel into the United States.

“We continue to believe that a ceasefire is needed in Ukraine and Russia to protect the world’s food supplies and energy infrastructure,” the European Commission said in a separate statement. “Europe knows all too well that there are hidden costs of over-reliance on Russian hydrocarbons, and it does not want to encourage Russia’s war on Ukraine.”

Britain and Germany announced that they would maintain sanctions against Russia.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office said: "The UK's position is clear. We will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure that Ukraine receives military and financial support for its defence. We will also maintain pressure on Russia with the highest level of sanctions ever imposed by the UK, making it more costly for Putin to invade (Ukraine)."

A German government spokesman said in a statement to AFP: "The German government sticks to sanctions against Russia and is cooperating with European partners on new sanctions," adding, "Germany's support is unwavering in Ukraine's struggle for self-defense."