Merz Rejects US-Russia Diesel Deal: 'No Place for This Decision in Europe'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected a deal concluded between the United States and Russia over diesel fuel exports, affirming at a press conference held at the Christian Democratic Union party headquarters in Berlin that "such a decision has no place for Germany and Europe."

Merz stressed that Russia will not engage in serious negotiations except under pressure, noting that Germany will continue to enforce sanctions imposed on it, and that there is justification for tightening them given Russian attacks on civilian energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

Merz described Moscow's response to US President Donald Trump's proposal for an energy truce as consisting of intensive attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, rather than engagement in a solution.

The chancellor pointed out that representatives from Germany, France, and Britain met with the US administration in Washington over the weekend to discuss ways to end the war, affirming that Ukraine and Zelenskyy can rely on Germany and Europe.