Germany has expressed its support for new European Union sanctions against Russia in the energy sector, following a recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The sanctions, which Berlin hopes will be backed by the US, aim to target Russia’s financial sector, a fleet of ships used to bypass oil bans, and the Nord Stream system – a network of gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea.
The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines have been inactive since 2022 due to EU sanctions and sabotage, with Russia accusing Western intelligence agencies of orchestrating the damage. According to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the goal of the new sanctions is to compel Moscow to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius emphasized the importance of US support, stating that it is “crucial” for the success of the potential sanctions package.
Moscow has indicated that it is open to a ceasefire “in principle,” but has raised concerns that it would only benefit Ukraine and allow its forces to regroup. Russia has also denounced the Western sanctions as illegal, citing its long history of resilience in the face of Western pressure. The comments from the German official come on the heels of a highly anticipated two-hour phone call between Putin and Trump, which both leaders described as productive. Putin expressed Russia’s readiness to work with Ukraine on drafting a memorandum for a potential future peace agreement, while Trump noted that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire and, more importantly, an end to the war.”
However, European leaders were reportedly “stunned” by Trump’s response, with sources indicating that the US president is not ready to put greater pressure on Putin. The Financial Times reported that Trump made it clear he would pull the US back from engaging with the conflict, leaving Ukraine and Russia to directly negotiate a ceasefire. This development has significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the future of international relations between Russia, the US, and Europe. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the path to a peaceful resolution will be complex and require careful diplomacy from all parties involved.
