Merz Urged Trump To Toughen U.S. Sanctions Against Russia
- 25.06.2025, 20:56
The U.S. could impose sanctions on countries such as China and India that buy Russian oil and gas.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague called on US President Donald Trump to open the way for US sanctions against Russia. "I again expressed to him our urgent request - in light of the situation in Ukraine - that the American side also join the new sanctions against Russia. There is no military solution to this conflict. We must increase economic pressure on Moscow," Merz said in The Hague on Wednesday, June 25.
The German chancellor said the European Union will finally approve the 18th package of sanctions against Russia on June 26, but it is not enough. He emphasized that active participation of the United States is needed, as only it can impose sanctions against countries such as China and India, which buy Russian oil and gas. "I have the impression that Trump is seriously considering what he can do," Merz said. He expressed the view that the US president, in light of the situation in Iran, should "seize this moment" in the trade and political sphere.
Mertz rejected the view that the NATO summit did not help Ukraine. The issue of Ukraine's membership in the alliance was not on the agenda at all, he pointed out, adding that the promises of assistance to Ukraine by NATO countries and others were significant.
Friedrich Merz also warned Russia against attacking NATO countries. "It is better for no one to dare to attack NATO - not in any place," he told reporters in The Hague. He said he voiced this view to alliance partners during the summit as well. Merz said Russia is not strong enough to attack NATO as a whole, "but we don't know if it won't one day try to test our defense capabilities."
The chancellor earlier called the NATO summit in The Hague "historic." According to diplomatic sources, Merz told alliance partners that Russia is constantly testing the North Atlantic alliance's mettle.