Merz, Macron Push for Secondary Sanctions on Russian Backers

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron called for secondary sanctions aimed at undermining Russia’s war machine, increasing pressure on Moscow as Donald Trump’s peace efforts sputter.

To hamper Moscow’s abilities to raise money from oil sales, Europe’s two biggest economies will push for measures targeting “companies from third countries that support Russia’s war,” according to a joint statement on Friday after a meeting of German and French cabinet members.