The key facts
- Von der Leyen: EU sanctions will remain in force until Russia ends the war
- The US lifted sanctions on Russian diesel in early October until April 7
- The first tanker with 40,000 tons of diesel for the US will leave port on October 22 — Novak
The EU will not follow the US in easing sanctions
The European Union will not lift energy sanctions against Russia until the Ukrainian conflict ends, despite US President Donald Trump's steps to ease restrictions. According to RIA Novosti, this was stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. 'Amid the current discussions, I want to be absolutely clear: these sanctions will remain in force until Russia stops the war,' she said.
Context: the US-Russia diesel deal
The European Commission president's statement came against the backdrop of a change in the US approach to restrictions on the Russian energy sector. In early October, the US Treasury announced that it had lifted sanctions on diesel from Russia for six months — until April 7. This followed a phone call between the presidents of Russia and the US, after which an agreement was reached on supplies from Russia of more than 300,000 tons of diesel and 500,000 tons of fuel to international markets.
The first tanker will leave on October 22
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak specified that the first tanker with Russian diesel fuel for the United States will leave port on October 22. The tanker will carry the first batch of 40,000 tons. Earlier, Trump said that the diesel deal with Russia is needed not by the US but by the world market.
