German Chancellor Frederich Merz said on Friday that six out of seven G7 countries were against the US’ decision to give Russia a reprieve from oil sanctions. US President Donald Trump carried out the move in order to boost global supply amid soaring prices, which came as a consequence the US-Israeli war that was launched against Iran on 28 February, Euronews reported.

The leaders of Germany, Canada and Norway – all NATO member states – said they would use their channels of communication with the White House to try and change Trump’s mind.

The trio reiterated the alliance’s stance that “maximum pressure still needs to be applied on the Kremlin over its war in Ukraine and its wider threat to global security.”

“Six out of seven were clearly of the opinion that we should not release the sanctions against Russia”, said Merz.