Europe Adds 1,600 Sanctions on Russia as Trump-Putin Diesel Deal Rattles Alliance
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Oct 12
Europe Adds 1,600 Sanctions on Russia as Trump-Putin Diesel Deal Rattles Alliance
3 articles · Updated · Euronews · Oct 12
Summary
EU foreign ministers approved 1,600 new sanctions listings, including about 800 tied to ballistic-missile production, as European leaders moved to reassure Ukraine after Trump’s diesel deal with Putin.
France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz said Europe would not copy the US move, with Merz calling any similar diesel waiver “out of the question” despite higher energy prices.
Kaja Kallas said the bloc showed unity but urged Washington to join the pressure campaign, while several ministers called the diesel deal regrettable because it could give Moscow more revenue for the war.
The backlash comes as Russia intensifies strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and the Black Sea blockade squeezes Kyiv’s economy, raising fears EU financial support will fall short next year without US backing.
Even so, Europe is keeping channels open with Washington after Miami talks involving Ukraine, major European powers, the Commission and NATO, prioritizing a seat in US-led negotiations over a public break.
As Washington eases sanctions on Russian diesel, can Europe's strict new penalties truly cripple Moscow's war machine alone?
How will global markets react when US energy deals clash directly with Europe's expanding blacklist of Russian suppliers?
With Russian strikes continuing despite a claimed ceasefire, will the transatlantic divide leave Ukraine freezing this winter?
Sanctions, Diesel, and Frozen Assets: How the EU’s 2026 Mega-Package and Trump’s Russia Deal Redrew the Ukraine War’s Economic Battlefield
Overview
In October 2026, the EU responded to intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure by launching its largest sanctions package, targeting Russia’s military-industrial core and freezing assets, which forced European businesses to tighten compliance and disrupted Russia’s global supply chains. Meanwhile, a spike in U.S. diesel prices—caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—led President Trump to strike a controversial diesel deal with Russia, sparking bipartisan outrage and straining transatlantic unity. As the U.S. announced an 'energy ceasefire' that Russia ignored, Ukraine threatened retaliation, while Europe debated how to leverage frozen Russian assets to sustain Ukraine amid shifting U.S. support.