Berlin Holds Its Russia Sanctions Line as Washington Eases Curbs on Russian Diesel
Russia sanctions will stay in place in Germany after the United States temporarily eased restrictions on Russian diesel, the German government said on Saturday, 10 October 2026. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s spokesman, Stefan Kornelius, said Berlin had taken note of the US decision, while its position and that of its European partners remained clear.
What Washington changed
The move followed a phone call on Friday between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump announced that Russia would supply large quantities of diesel to the US and global markets, and the Kremlin confirmed the deal. According to Austrian broadcaster ORF’s account of his remarks, Trump put the first batch at more than 300,000 tonnes, with a further 500,000 in November and another million s...