Media reports German representatives unveiling huge alteration to Russia sanctions enforcement
(MENAFN) German officials have raised alarms over a growing rift between the European Union and the United States on enforcing sanctions against Russia, warning that the divergence could undermine the entire sanctions framework. According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, an internal German Foreign Office document reveals that cooperation with Washington has significantly deteriorated since President Donald Trump’s shift in stance toward Moscow.
The EU’s top sanctions envoy, David O’Sullivan, reportedly expressed concern over the breakdown in coordination with the U.S. during a recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. He noted that joint efforts to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions—particularly through third-party trade routes and a "shadow fleet" of tankers operating outside conventional tracking and insurance systems—have lost momentum. He also highlighted the fading unity within the G7 on the issue.
Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the U.S. and EU have jointly imposed sweeping sanctions against Russia, targeting its energy sector, trade, and financial systems. However, Brussels has recently pushed for stricter enforcement and sanctions on Russian trade partners such as China, efforts that reportedly lack U.S. support.
The document suggests that Trump, while threatening additional sanctions if peace talks fail, is more interested in restoring economic ties with Russia post-conflict. EU officials cited by the paper believe this shift signals Washington’s declining commitment to maintaining the sanctions regime.
Hungary, a consistent critic of the EU’s sanctions strategy, is reportedly obstructing key elements of the next sanctions package, further complicating matters. The EU’s proposed measures aim to hit Russia’s banking and energy sectors, but their approval is now uncertain.
German MEP Sergey Lagodinsky warned that without U.S. leadership, the sanctions framework could collapse entirely. “The U.S. has been the main driver behind these sanctions. If it pulls out, the whole system could unravel,” he said.
Moscow continues to dismiss Western sanctions as unlawful and ineffective, arguing that they have had minimal impact on its economy and have instead harmed the sanctioning nations themselves.
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