Trump Urges European Leaders to Cut Ties with Russia
Former President Donald Trump urged European leaders to stop “funding” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. He criticized them for not exerting enough pressure on China in this context.
In a recent statement after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders, Trump pointed out that Europe needs to stop purchasing Russian oil. He mentioned that, in just a year, Russia has earned approximately 1.1 billion euros (almost $1.3 billion) from fuel sales to the EU.
“President Trump emphasized that European leaders must apply economic pressure on China to help end Russia’s military actions,” an official noted.
Despite the EU’s efforts to cut Russian oil imports following the Ukraine war, Trump’s remarks highlight that imports have not been entirely eliminated.
The White House was unclear about the source or timeframe of the figures presented by Trump. An official reiterated that the U.S. was not part of any coalition supporting Ukraine during Trump’s tenure, mentioning that French President Emmanuel Macron and European leaders have invited Trump to an upcoming meeting.
White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently attended a conference in Paris, where he greeted Zelensky warmly at the meeting that took place on Thursday. Macron described the gathering as a significant achievement but faced skepticism from the White House concerning the ongoing negotiations.
Macron discussed the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine, although this proposal remains uncertain. He indicated that such an action would only occur once a ceasefire is established.
During the meeting, Zelensky shared that discussions focused on intensifying pressure on Putin to bring an end to the prolonged conflict. He stressed that various strategies were considered, particularly emphasizing the need for stringent economic measures targeting Russian resources. “The key to peace is to disrupt the funding for Russian military operations,” he stated.
Zelensky also brought up proposals for enhancing Ukraine’s air defenses as the country endures missile impacts. However, the White House did not respond to inquiries regarding potential further support from the U.S.
Meanwhile, Putin recently had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, amid continuing support from both countries for his actions in Ukraine, even as Western nations push back.
In a social media post, Zelensky noted the collaborative effort to pressure Putin and work toward actualizing peace, mentioning that the coalition is actively considering protective measures for Ukrainian airspace.
As the political situation evolves, Trump stated he plans to speak with Putin soon, which raises some eyebrows among Ukraine and Western security officials.
