Toulon, France, August 30, 2025
In a coordinated move to increase pressure on Moscow, German and French leaders are urging the international community to impose secondary sanctions on countries and companies that continue to support Russia. The call came from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron during a joint news conference today, in which they warned that Vladimir Putin’s government shows little willingness to end its war on Ukraine.
Key Headlines
* A “Total Disaster” for Trade: The two leaders’ push for secondary sanctions would be a significant shift in European policy, directly targeting countries like India and China that continue to purchase Russian oil.
* A New Diplomatic Spat: The move is a response to the ongoing diplomatic deadlock and to recent Russian attacks on Kyiv, which killed at least 23 people.
* A Call for Sanctions: Macron stated that Europe is prepared to act alone but is also urging the United States to join the effort to force Russia to the negotiating table.
* A New Diplomatic Spat: The two countries also pledged to provide additional air defense systems to Ukraine to help it defend against Russian missile strikes.
The Franco-German push for secondary sanctions marks a significant escalation in Europe’s response to the war. While previous sanctions have focused on Russian entities and individuals, this new proposal would target companies from “third countries that support Russia’s war,” according to a joint statement. The move is aimed squarely at cutting off Russia’s revenue from oil sales, which have been diverted to non-Western markets.
The leaders made their comments after a meeting of the Franco-German Council of Ministers in the southern French port city of Toulon. The meeting took place against the backdrop of a new wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine and a stalemate in peace efforts mediated by US President Donald Trump.
Macron expressed hope that a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would take place, but warned that if Putin did not meet the deadline set by Trump to agree to talks, it would prove that Russia is not serious about a peaceful resolution. “This cannot stay without response,” Macron stated.
The proposal for secondary sanctions, a tactic long used by the US, would mean that any company found to be trading with sanctioned Russian entities could lose access to Western financial systems and markets. This has been a source of tension with major buyers of Russian oil, like India, which has been under pressure from the US to reduce its energy purchases from Russia.
