Germany and France have called for secondary sanctions against companies supporting Russia

Berlin and Paris are calling for tougher restrictions to cut off Moscow’s access to financing the war through third-party intermediaries.

Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron have called for secondary sanctions against companies from countries that help Russia earn money from oil sales. Bloomberg reports.

“We must continue to apply pressure and are ready to do so, both on our own and together with the United States, to force Russia back to the negotiating table,” Macron said at a joint press conference with Merz in Toulon.

European leaders have stressed that tightening sanctions should undermine the Kremlin’s financial capabilities to wage war against Ukraine. The initiative comes amid growing frustration in Europe over US President Donald Trump’s reluctance to openly confront Putin. Kyiv’s allies hope that additional EU sanctions could push Washington to take more decisive steps.

Macron and Merz plan to discuss the issue with Trump this weekend, possibly in separate phone calls.

During the Franco-German Defense and Security Council in Toulon, the parties also announced a new support package for Ukraine, which includes additional air defense systems in response to massive Russian attacks, including the airstrike on Kyiv on August 28.

The day before, USM reported that a Russian businessman had been informed of suspicions of supplying electricity to the Russian Black Sea Fleet.