On October 10, 2025, the German government issued a clear statement that it would continue to uphold and pursue sanctions against Russia. Officials said the decision was made to distance Berlin from a recent policy shift by the United States. A spokesperson for the Economic Affairs Minister emphasized that the federal government remains committed to the existing sanctions framework and is coordinating with European partners on any further measures. The announcement came as part of a broader effort to show that Germany’s stance on Russia is independent of developments in Washington.
Almost a year later, on October 9, 2026, President Donald Trump announced a temporary lifting of U.S. sanctions to allow the import of 300,000 tons of Russian diesel fuel. The move was framed as a response to record‑high fuel prices that had been driven up by the conflict in Iran. The authorization was described as temporary and limited to that quantity.
In the wake of Trump’s announcement, German officials reiterated that the country stays independent of Russian oil supplies. They stressed that Germany continues to back the existing European Union sanctions packages. The government’s position, as conveyed by the Economic Affairs Minister’s spokesperson, was that Berlin’s energy policy does not rely on Russian hydrocarbons and that it will not deviate from the coordinated EU approach to pressure Moscow.
They stressed that Germany continues to back the existing European Union sanctions packages.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz used the same occasion to underline Germany’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine. He said that Berlin would keep providing both financial and political assistance to Kyiv, reinforcing the message that support for Ukraine remains a cornerstone of German foreign policy. This statement was made alongside the reaffirmation of sanctions, linking the two pillars of Germany’s response to the ongoing conflict.
🚨 REPORT: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls President Trump’s decision to strike a diesel deal with Russia “weak.” https://t.co/LAkZc7JYJy
His remark captures the continuity that German leaders sought to project, even as the United States took a different, temporary tack on diesel imports.