After US eases curbs on Russian diesel, Germany and UK call for tougher sanctions on Russia

After US President Donald Trump eased restrictions on Russian diesel, the foreign ministers of Germany and the United Kingdom have stressed the need for tougher sanctions on Moscow.

Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum held in the Polish capital, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said sanctions should be tightened rather than eased, adding that Europe is urging the United States to increase pressure on Russia as well.

The decision, made last week under an agreement for Russia to supply diesel to the US, has disappointed Ukraine and its European supporters. Meanwhile, the European Union on Monday added about 1,600 more Russian individuals and entities to its sanctions list.

Trump had announced after his conversation with Putin on Friday that Russia would make large quantities of diesel available on the world market. The move comes amid efforts to control fuel prices that have risen since war broke out against Iran on February 28.

However, EU economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, speaking at the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, said Russian diesel would not significantly lower fuel prices on the global market, noting that the volume of diesel Russia plans to export would not meaningfully affect the world economy.