Germany sticks to Russia sanctions after Trump diesel deal

Germany on Saturday said it would continue pursuing sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, coming a day after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary US sanctions reprieve on Russian diesel.

"The federal government has taken note of the US decision relating to Russian diesel deliveries," government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said in a statement.

"The federal government remains committed to the decisions on sanctions against Russia and is working with its European partners on further sanctions," the statement added.

Germany's "support for Ukraine in its struggle to defend itself remains unfailing ... Diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution continue," he added.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has been subject to round after round of sanctions packages led by the US and EU.

Russian crude and other oil products have been subject to EU sanctions since 2023, and Germany has not imported any oil or oil products from Russia since then.

A spokesperson for Economic Affairs Minister Katherina Reiche said Saturday that "Germany stands fully behind the sanctions packages."

"Our supply is diversified in this area; we are independent of Russian oil," the spokesperson said.

Germany remains Ukraine's largest financial backer in Europe. During a visit to Kyiv last weekend, Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated Germany's unwavering support for Ukraine.

In what amounts to a major reversal in US policy, Trump on Friday said he would temporarily lift US sanctions to allow Russia to "immediately" supply over 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to US and global markets.

The move comes as diesel prices reach record levels after the war in Iran launched by the US and Israel sent diesel prices skyrocketing around the world. In the US, the high prices are putting political pressure on Trump's Republicans ahead of the midterm elections in November.

However, despite Trump's claims on social media, it remains unclear how much Russian fuel will reach global markets amid domestic fuel shortages as Ukraine continues to target refineries.

The appearance of Germany's Russia-friendly former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder at President Vladimir Putin's birthday party earlier this week has drawn criticism in Germany.

Franziska Brantner, the co-leader of Germany's Green party, called on Schröder's Social Democrats (SPD) to revisit revoking Schröder's party membership.

"Russia is now even attacking us in Germany with hybrid attacks. Schröder hasn't learned anything from this. A new approach needs to be put on the table," she told the Tagesspiegel newspaper.

"Schröder is celebrating Putin's birthday with him, while civilians in Ukraine are once again dying as a result of Russian attacks. This is politically unacceptable," said Brantner.

Anything less than expulsion from the party would be "a disastrous signal, not only to Ukraine but also to the people and their safety in our country," Brantner added.

The SPD's Hubertus Heil, who served as Germany's labor minister from 2018 to 2025, also criticized Schröder.

"The warm embrace between Schröder and Putin in Moscow deeply outrages and disturbs me," Heil told the Tagesspiegel.

Celebrating with a "dictator" whose "murderous imperialism causes horrific suffering every day" is "unjustifiable under any circumstances," he said.

Putin celebrated his 74th birthday in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin said Putin learned that Schröder was on a business trip in the Russian capital via Russian media reports.

"The president invited his old friend to his home," the Kremlin said, with the Russian government releasing pictures of Schröder and Putin smiling and clasping hands.

Schröder's business and personal ties to Russia have drawn controversy since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Schröder's tax-payer financed Berlin office was closed in 2022 over his involvement in the Russian energy sector, but he fended off calls at the time by fellow party members to be expelled from the SPD.