German opposition leader Friedrich Merz has sharply criticized US moves to ease sanctions on Russian energy exports, calling such policies "fundamentally wrong" and highlighting a growing transatlantic divide over how to balance energy security with pressure on Moscow.
Speaking to reporters in Berlin on Thursday, Merz—who leads the center-right Christian Democratic Union and is favored to become Germany's next chancellor—argued that relaxing sanctions on Russia "undermines years of coordinated Western policy and sends precisely the wrong signal to the Kremlin," according to Reuters.
The comments come as the Trump administration has quietly authorized temporary purchases of Russian oil already at sea, citing the need to stabilize energy markets disrupted by the conflict with Iran. US Treasury officials characterized the move as a "limited, temporary measure" designed to prevent price spikes rather than a fundamental policy shift. Yet for European officials who have endured significant economic pain to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia, the distinction offers little comfort.
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Western response centered on comprehensive sanctions designed to cripple Moscow's war-making capacity. Energy sanctions—particularly the EU's phased embargo on oil and the price cap mechanism—were among the most painful measures, costing European economies dearly as they scrambled to find alternative suppliers.
