Calls for a complete halt to European oil imports from Russia are gaining traction within Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), echoing a recent assertion by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Roderich Kiesewetter, CDU member of the Bundestag and a defense expert, acknowledged the validity of Trump’s position, noting that the U.S. President raises a relevant point. He highlighted past calls from Senator JD Vance emphasizing the need for Europe to take more robust action. Kiesewetter stated that Europe has the capacity to impose significantly stricter sanctions, including a complete cessation of oil and gas imports from Russia, thereby depriving Moscow of a key revenue stream to fund its military actions.
Thomas Röwekamp, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee, also echoed Trump’s call, framing it as an opportunity for Europe. He advocated for decisive and unified action, emphasizing the need to swiftly phase out indirect energy imports from Russia, seize frozen Russian assets and exert pressure on nations maintaining close ties with Moscow. Röwekamp stressed the importance of a united European front to maintain credibility and maximize the impact of sanctions.
While acknowledging Trump’s call, Kiesewetter cautioned against overlooking the potential motivation behind it, suggesting the U.S. President may be leveraging the issue to delay his own sanctions implementation. He added that U.S. sanctions, particularly secondary sanctions targeting third-party nations like India and China that continue to engage in trade with Russia, have demonstrably significant impact.