A White House official stated that Trump emphasized that European nations must stop fueling Russia's war machine, noting that the EU had provided Russia with €1.1 billion in fuel sales over the past year. The President also insisted that European leaders must place economic pressure on China for its role in funding Russia's military efforts.
The developments highlight the Trump administration's strategy of applying secondary economic pressure to isolate Russia, a tactic already employed against India through increased tariffs. This comes as the President faces growing frustration over the stalled peace negotiations following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska weeks ago.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on the call, announced that 26 countries have pledged to contribute to a potential peacekeeping force if a ceasefire is finalized. However, Macron acknowledged that a crucial "American safety net" would be essential for the credibility of any European-led security guarantees for Ukraine, adding that details of US support would be finalized in the coming days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed the need for continued pressure, advocating for "secondary sanctions and special trade tariffs" on all countries that trade with Russia. He also dismissed a recent invitation from Putin to meet in Moscow, suggesting it was not a genuine gesture for peace.
The US has indicated a willingness to play a limited role in post-war security, potentially involving air support, but officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio have maintained that Europe should take the lead, and Trump has repeatedly ruled out putting "boots on the ground" in Ukraine.