Germany said it was wrong for the United States to ease some oil sanctions on Russia to tackle surging energy costs caused by the Middle East war, warning the move could help fund Moscow's war against Ukraine. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking on a visit to Norway, said that "easing sanctions now, for whatever reason, is wrong. Merz said G7 leaders had spoken with US President Donald Trump "about the issue of oil and gas deliveries from Russia". Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, speaking alongside Merz, said Oslo is "extremely sceptical" about easing oil sanctions. Western nations accuse Russia of using a "shadow fleet" of ageing tankers to transport its oil in violation of sanctions.

Source: The Local March 16, 2026 08:59 UTC