German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday said that the recent agreement between the United States and Russia regarding diesel exports is “out of the question” for Germany and Europe.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Mr Merz said that Germany is adhering to the sanctions against Russia and pledged continued support for Ukraine.

Mr Merz added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could count on Germany and Europe’s continued support.

Earlier, on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with President Donald Trump, after which Trump announced an agreement for Russia to supply diesel to the United States and international markets.

The Russian government partially eased the restrictions on diesel exports on Saturday. The restrictions had been in place since the beginning of 2026.

Mr Trump also announced an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine. However, Merz said that the conditions were not yet conducive to immediate peace negotiations. He said European Union leaders would continue efforts to secure a just and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine at a summit scheduled to be held in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

The remarks followed a two-day leadership retreat of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.
At the news conference, the chancellor also discussed Germany’s economic challenges and measures to ease the energy tax burden.

The CDU has suffered setbacks in several recent state elections, including failing to enter the state legislature in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, north-eastern Germany, for the first time.

Mr Merz pledged to speed up pending social and economic reforms, including measures to lower energy prices.

(Xinhua/NAN)