Russia oil sanctions

Trump is ‘wrong’: Europeans slam US decision to ease Russia oil sanctions

“We want to ensure that Russia does not exploit the war in Iran to weaken Ukraine,” the German chancellor said.

By Nette Nöstlinger, Hans von der Burchard and Clea Caulcutt

European leaders rounded on the Trump administration Friday for temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian oil in an effort to bring down surging energy prices amid the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy all denounced the decision to allow the delivery and sale of Russian oil stranded at sea, which will allow the Kremlin to replenish its war chest for the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“We think that’s wrong,” Merz said, speaking alongside Norwegian Prime Minster Jonas Gahr Støre. “There is currently a price problem, but not a supply problem. And in that regard, I would like to know what other factors led the U.S. government to make this decision."

Merz said the decision by the U.S. administration had come as a surprise on Friday morning, crushing his hopes that Washington might refrain from taking such steps, as other G7 members had strongly urged Trump not to ease the pressure on Moscow during a joint video call on Wednesday.

“We want to ensure that Russia does not exploit the war in Iran to weaken Ukraine,” Merz said. “Nor will we allow Moscow to test NATO on its eastern flank and up here in the north.”

Merz stressed that Germany, together with its G7 partners and Israel, was working to end the war. He also reiterated his fears that the U.S. and Israel lack a strategy for ending the conflict.

The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks against American allies in the Gulf have halted transit in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most vital maritime chokepoints, driving up energy prices.

In view of soaring prices, Merz pointed to the release of international oil reserves in recent days, including by Germany, which he said, “will help to moderate energy prices to some extent.”

The American move to ease pressure on Russia was met with exasperation by Ukrainian leadership. Speaking in Paris on Friday, Zelenskyy said the U.S. decision was "not very logical.”

“The lifting of sanctions means that [Russia] will receive more money and there will be more drone attacks” in the Middle East, Zelenskyy said. “Russia will get money for its war machine and there are a lot of drones that are built on Russian soil to destabilize the Middle East,” he added.

Macron echoed that frustration with Washington and said prices rising “doesn’t mean we should review our sanctions policies against Russia.”

“It’s the position of the G7 and it’s obviously ours,” he added. 

“Russia is receiving new resources because of the destabilization, Ukraine must receive what has been promised,” Zelenskyy added.