German Chancellor Opposes US President's 'Energy Truce' Announcement

Berlin, Oct 12 (KUNA) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday his rejection of the “energy truce” or diesel-related agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. In a press statement in Berlin, Merz said such a decision was “unacceptable” for Europe, adding that Russia would not enter into serious negotiations unless under pressure, and that it was necessary to increase pressure on the Russian president rather than ease it.

Regarding the U.S. president’s initiative to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, the German chancellor noted that Russia had intensified its strikes on Ukraine’s civilian energy supplies following that initiative, rather than ceasing them. Merz affirmed that Germany would continue to support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in response to Trump’s call for the election of a new president in Ukraine. He stressed that Germany would continue to work toward a just and lasting peace that safeguards Ukraine’s freedom and Europe’s security.

Earlier on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt reciprocal strikes targeting each other’s energy facilities and infrastructure. In a brief post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Russian and Ukrainian sides had “agreed” to what he described as an “energy truce” in their ongoing war, to take effect “immediately,” and urged them not to “violate” this truce. (End)