Kananaskis, Alberta (dpa) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday called on US President Donald Trump to participate in a new EU initiative for sanctions on Russia, as leaders of the world’s most advanced democracies convened in the Canadian resort of Kananaskis.
“I would very much like the United States of America to join in and impose corresponding sanctions on their side as well,” said Merz at the start of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in the province of Alberta.
The German leader pointed out that there have been no fresh US sanctions since Trump returned to power in Washington in January.
“Only the sanctions that were decided under the old Joe Biden administration are currently in place,” said Merz, who plans to meet Trump on the sidelines of the summit for a second face-to-face meeting following his inaugural visit to Washington.
The new EU package aims to further increase pressure on Russia in order to persuade the country to negotiate an end to the war against Ukraine.
The planned sanctions target the Russian energy and banking sectors, aiming to lower the price cap for the sale of Russian oil to countries such as India and China from the current $60 to $45 per barrel.
The price cap was introduced by the G7 group in 2022 and provides for sanctions against actors involved in exporting Russian oil at higher prices.
Merz’s comments came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on the US to tighten sanctions against Russia on Sunday.
In order to bring Russia to the negotiating table and end the war in Ukraine, pressure must be increased, von der Leyen said at a press conference.
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