Bihocau

Friedrich Merz said that a compromise continues to be formed during working meetings, but expressed confidence that an agreement will be reached.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz shared information in an interview with Tagesschau on Tuesday, July 1, about how he is trying to promote the toughest package of sanctions against Russia.

According to him, the new sanctions from the 18th package are in the final stage of discussions with the Slovak authorities.

“Yesterday I spoke with the Prime Minister of Slovakia. He is talking about an objective problem. The entire industry of Slovakia, including many German companies, needs energy supplies from Russia, because they currently have no other sources of supply. We are trying to solve the problem, I am participating in these attempts to solve it,” Merz said.

The Chancellor reported that a compromise was still being formed during the working meetings, but expressed confidence that an agreement would be reached, after which the new package of sanctions would come into force.

When asked whether he was confident that Congress would make a decision, Merz emphasized the positive outcome, since more than 80 senators had already expressed their support.

However, according to Friedrich Merz, Trump will still have to be convinced of the need for economic pressure on Putin to end the war.

“I am not sure that Trump will really implement it, because he has a choice – to act or to refrain. Therefore, I am discussing this with him and trying to stimulate him to action. I explain that it is he who has unique tools and levers of pressure that can economically influence Putin and end this war,” the German Chancellor emphasized.

According to Merz, this set of measures is the toughest against Russia in the last three and a half years.

It was previously reported that the European Union will return to discussing the 18th package of sanctions against Russia after Slovakia resolves the issue of refusing Russian gas with the European Commission.