Finance
Germany seeks clarity on easing US sanctions against Russia, merz says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 13, 2026
Quick Summary
Chancellor Merz said Germany only learned on March 13, 2026, about the U.S. waiver allowing purchases of Russian oil stranded at sea. He seeks clarity on Washington’s motivations, and ruled out German military involvement in protecting Strait of Hormuz shipping routes.
Germany's Merz says easing Russia sanctions is wrong
International Response to Russia Sanctions and Oil Market Impact
ANDØYA, Norway, March 13 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that any move to ease sanctions against Russia is wrong, after the United States issued a 30-day waiver for countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products stranded at sea.
Merz's Position on Sanctions
"We believe that is wrong," Merz said at a press conference alongside his Norwegian counterpart.
Concerns Over U.S. Waiver Decision
"There is currently a problem with prices, but not with supply. And in that respect, I would like to know what other factors led the U.S. government to take this decision."
Market Reaction and Oil Price Fluctuations
The waiver, issued in an apparent effort to ease oil and gas prices driven up by the war the U.S. and Israel are waging with Iran, appeared to have little effect on Friday, with benchmark Brent crude back up to $101 per barrel by 1000 GMT.
Iran's Retaliation and Regional Tensions
Iran's retaliation has included strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, bringing non-Iranian vessel transits through the main gateway for much of the Middle East's oil exports to a near standstill and forcing producers in the region to cut output.
Germany's Stance on Involvement in the Conflict
"Let me make this very clear once again: Germany is not part of this war, and we do not wish to become one," Merz said.
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Thomas Seythal, editing by Friederike Heine and Miranda Murray)
Key Takeaways
- •Germany was informed by the U.S. only on March 13 2026 about a waiver allowing the purchase of sanctioned Russian oil already at sea, prompting calls from Merz for an explanation of Washington’s decision.
- •The U.S. waiver—a 30‑day, narrowly tailored measure—permits purchase of Russian crude loaded before early March to stabilize energy markets amid disruptions caused by the Iran war (euronews.com).
- •Merz emphasized that Germany is not part of the Iran conflict and sees no justification for providing military protection to secure sea routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Germany seeks clarity on easing US sanctions against Russia, Merz says
1What prompted Germany to seek clarity on US sanctions against Russia?
Germany learned about the US waiver allowing the purchase of sanctioned Russian oil and wants to understand Washington's motivations.
2When did Germany find out about the US decision on Russian oil sanctions?
Germany was informed about the US action on lifting oil sanctions on Friday morning when the waiver was issued.
3What is Germany’s stance on providing military protection for sea routes near Iran?
Chancellor Merz stated that Germany sees no reason to consider military protection for sea routes as Germany is not involved in the Iran conflict.
4Where was Chancellor Merz when he made his statement on US sanctions?
He made his remarks during a visit to Andøya, Norway.