BERLIN (Dispatches) - 
Germany said on Saturday it would maintain sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that his administration had temporarily lifted U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel.
“The federal government has taken note of the U.S. decision relating to Russian diesel deliveries,” government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said in a statement.
He said Germany’s position remained clear: “The federal government remains committed to the decisions on sanctions against Russia and is working with its European partners on further sanctions.”
He said Germany’s support for Ukraine was unchanged and diplomatic efforts to reach a solution would continue.
Trump said on Friday that Russia had agreed to supply diesel to global markets in an effort to lower fuel prices. He said his administration temporarily lifted U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel designed to deprive Moscow of revenues for its war on Ukraine.
Prices for diesel, used for agriculture, heating homes and trucking, have risen to near record levels, posing a risk for Trump’s fellow Republicans ahead of the November 3 congressional elections that will determine whether they maintain thin control of Congress.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who visited Kyiv last weekend, has said repeatedly that Germany, Ukraine’s largest European donor, would not reduce its support for the Kyiv government. 
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia selling diesel supplies to U.S. and global markets would benefit the world economy.
A Kremlin statement said Putin indicated that the two leaders discussed the global energy sector, prospects for resolving the Ukraine war, the situation on Iran, and bilateral relations.
“In discussing the state of the global energy sector, the Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to supply oil and petroleum products to the U.S. and global markets. I am confident that this will have a positive impact on the global economy as a whole,” said Putin.
The statement said the conversation devoted “significant attention” to prospects for resolving the ongoing war.
Putin also said the two leaders reaffirmed an agreement to maintain personal contacts and continue cooperation between their presidential administrations, intelligence agencies, and other government bodies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that easing sanctions on Russia without a de-escalation deal would be an “obvious weakness,” following a diesel supply agreement announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a statement on U.S. social media platform X, Zelenskyy said he had received a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress in Kyiv earlier Friday.
He said he called for stronger sanctions and increased pressure on Russia, as well as further support for Ukraine.
“And today, there was a conversation between the leaders of America and Russia. A conversation that leads to something different,” Zelenskyy said.