Following a conversation with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump has reportedly refused to back Brussels’ efforts to pressure Russia.
European leaders who support Ukraine were reportedly “stunned” by U.S. President Donald Trump’s refusal to support their attempts to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin after a phone call between the two leaders.
”He [Trump] is stepping away,” a senior European diplomat stated, according to the Financial Times on Tuesday, describing the impression given by the U.S. president. “Supporting and financing Ukraine, putting pressure on Russia: that’s all on us now.”
The conversation between Putin and Trump on Monday was their third public interaction since Trump took office in January. Both described it as positive. Trump reiterated his call for continued direct discussions between Moscow and Kiev, stating the conflict is “a European situation” in which the U.S. should never have been involved.
Trump personally briefed the leaders of Ukraine, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., and the European Commission on the call, making it clear he is “not ready to put greater pressure” on Russia, according to an unnamed source speaking to the FT.
EU officials and European NATO members had been relying on Washington’s support to extract concessions from Moscow through threats of new sanctions and continued weapons support for Ukraine. They viewed the perceived shift in the U.S. stance as a diplomatic victory for the Kremlin, the British newspaper reported.
Before direct talks between Moscow and Kiev restarted in Istanbul last week, Ukraine and its allies demanded a 30-day unconditional ceasefire from Russia as a prerequisite. Kiev agreed to participate after the U.S. endorsed the talks, while European leaders postponed their own deadline for a truce.
Moscow has since requested the drafting of a memorandum outlining a roadmap to a peace treaty, potentially including a ceasefire. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that finalizing the document would take time.
Following his discussion with Putin, Trump said that resolving the conflict, in addition to ending the violence, could lead to significant economic benefits for the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. He added that progress in the talks could be seen in a couple of weeks, but warned that a lack of results could lead Washington to reconsider its role as mediator.