Donald Trump told European leaders on Monday that he believes his so-called “buddy” Vladimir Putin is still winning the war in Ukraine and is not ready to stop. It contrasts with Trump’s usual public line, where he portrays Putin as a leader who actually wants peace.
The new take came during private calls that included Ukrainian President Voldi Mie Selensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen. Wall Street Journal.
Until now, Trump has avoided putting Putin publicly saying he has no interest in ending the war. That changed with this call. Despite this private approval, Trump has not taken the actions repeatedly promoted by Zelensky and the Europeans, but he has not yet moved to pressure Russia with new sanctions.
Trump changes his position before and after Putin’s phone
The day before that call, on Sunday, Trump spoke with Macron, Meltz, Meloni and the new British Prime Minister, Kiel Starmer. He told them that if Putin refuses to use a ceasefire, he might consider impose sanctions.
Instead of sanctions, Trump said it was held at the Vatican, speeding up low-level talks between Ukraine and Russia. Zelensky was part of the call Monday. European leaders spent 10 days of pressure on Trump, hoping to use American influence to stop Putin.
That effort didn’t work. Trump did not commit anything serious. He continued to repeat that war was not his battle. “This is not my war,” Trump told reporters Monday. “We got caught up in something we shouldn’t have been involved in.”
Some Europeans calling were hoping that Vatican consultations would include an unconditional ceasefire. Trump didn’t like it. He insisted that he never used the term “unconditional” despite his May 8 post clearly including it when he called for a 30-day ceasefire. Ultimately, Europeans gave up on using the word.
Europeans test Trump after Meltz comes to power
When Friedrich Merz became prime minister in the beginning of May, the diplomatic push became more aggressive. Unlike former Prime Minister Olaf Scholz, Meltz is willing to take on Putin. His government changed the German constitution to allow for more military spending.
On May 10, Macron’s Mertz, Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass surprised Kiev’s Zelensky. During the visit, they used Macron’s phone to call Trump directly, telling him that Ukraine is on a 30-day ceasefire. They warned Putin that if Europe doesn’t go together they would push for fresh sanctions.
Putin responded to the warning by meeting Ukraine in person for the first time in three years. Trump jumped at it and suggested that he might travel to Türkiye to travel to Türkiye.
A meeting took place in Istanbul, but Putin did not appear. He sent a mid-level negotiator instead, repeating Russia’s usual demands, but Ukraine had already refused.
After that no-show, European leaders returned to Trump again. They told him that Putin’s actions proved that stronger actions were needed. They have passed some minor sanctions, but the larger sanctions are still in work.
Trump said he had planned a new call with Putin because he believed a peace deal could not happen without a conversation between the two leaders.
Sunday’s call with European leaders (before talking to Putin) Trump said the US could work with Europe on sanctions on Russian oil and banks. Trump’s ally Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wednesday he already had 81 co-sponsors on the bill that would slam Russia with energy and financial sanctions.
That Sunday’s call also had a typical Trump moment. He praised Meltz in his English. “I love it even more with your German accent,” Trump told him. However, he also began to attack European migration policies, saying his country was on the “brink of collapse.” Macron, who has known Trump over the phone for longer than anyone else, asks him to stop. “You cannot insult our country, Donald,” he said.
Even in that troubling moment, some have called Trump might support new sanctions if Putin refused peace. But those hopes were short-lived. Vatican talks are currently scheduled for mid-June.
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