Germany's Merz rejects Trump's Russian diesel deal

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz distanced himself from US President Donald Trump on Monday over a US deal with Russia to resume diesel exports, saying Germany and Europe would maintain sanctions against Moscow.

Merz said the German government had taken note of the agreement between Washington and Moscow but would not follow suit.

"Such a decision is out of the question for Germany and Europe. Russia will only negotiate seriously under pressure, and that is why we are sticking to our sanctions against Russia," he said.

Merz argued that sanctions should continue to be tightened in response to Moscow's attacks, especially on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure. He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could continue to count on support from Germany and Europe.

Trump announced on his Truth Social platform following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow had agreed to make more than 300,000 tons of diesel immediately available to the US and global markets in a bid to lower prices at the pump.

According to Trump, Russia would release another 500,000 tons in November, followed shortly afterwards by a further 1 million tons.

The European Union has blasted the agreement.