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Germany and France Call for Secondary Sanctions to Bring Russia Back to Negotiating Table
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![Photo of Liubava Petriv]( "Photo of Liubava Petriv")
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for the introduction of secondary sanctions targeting companies in third countries that help Russia sustain its war against Ukraine.
The leaders made the remarks on August 29 after a joint government meeting in Toulon, France.
Macron said France is prepared to adopt additional sanctions independently but urged close coordination with the United States.
“We are ready to act on our own, but we call on the US to join these efforts in order to bring Russia back to the negotiating table,” he told a joint press conference with Merz.
Paris and Berlin also announced plans to deepen cooperation within the European Union and with the G7 to expand and strengthen sanctions, aiming to maximize pressure on Moscow.
The initiative comes amid a new wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine. Earlier this week, Kyiv suffered one of the heaviest strikes of the year, involving drones and missiles, which left at least 25 people dead, including four children.
Merz noted that Washington is currently considering the possibility of imposing tariffs on countries that continue to purchase Russian energy.
“I would strongly welcome such a move, as these revenues largely finance Russia’s war economy,” he said.
On August 29, it was reported that Andriy Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, alongside First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, met in New York with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss follow-up on Washington summit agreements and strengthen Ukraine–US coordination.
