Germany has vowed to put more sanctions on Russia in the aftermath of the phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The call allegedly alluded to the possibility of a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Germany has said it supports new EU sanctions against Russia in the energy sector, and it wants the United States to back its decisions. So far, reports are that the U.S. is unlikely to do so.
While speaking at a press briefing on Monday, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said Berlin “supports the elements [of sanctions] related to Nord Stream,” adding: “It is, of course, also crucial that the US will accompany a potential sanctions package.”
The Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea have been inactive since 2022 due to EU sanctions and sabotage, which Russia insists was orchestrated by Western intelligence agencies, according to a report by RT.
Moscow has said multiple times that it is open to a ceasefire “in principle,” but has expressed concerns that it would only benefit Ukraine and allow its battered forces to regroup until Kiev continues its attacks. Russia has also said it considers the Western sanctions illegal, while noting that the country’s economy has long been accustomed to Western pressure.
Moscow’s allegations are not unfounded either. Ukraine has violated ceasefire agreements on several occasions, killing civilians in the process.
Ukraine Killed Six Civilians During Ceasefire
Russian President Putin described the call as “substantive and quite candid,” adding that Russia is ready to work with Kiev on drafting a memorandum on a potential future peace agreement. Trump described the call as “excellent,” noting that “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire and, more importantly, an end to the war.”
Russia: Ukraine Violated The Easter Ceasefire Over 1,300 Times
Financial Times sources (as reported by RT) also said Trump made it clear that “he would pull the US back from engaging with the conflict and leave Ukraine and Russia to directly negotiate a ceasefire.”
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