Trump's Ukraine U-Turn: Putin ‘Winning’, Peace Elusive, EU Tightens Sanctions
In a significant shift in tone, U.S. President Donald Trump privately acknowledged to European leaders that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not inclined to end the war in Ukraine, as he believes Russia currently has the upper hand. According to The Washington Post, this admission came during a Monday phone call with top European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Though Trump finally conceded in private that Putin does not seek peace, he refrained from aligning with European demands for stronger pressure on Moscow. Publicly, Trump has consistently suggested that Putin wants peace, making his private remarks a notable contrast. Despite this clarity, Trump declined to intensify U.S. involvement or support additional coercive tactics like sanctions.
On Sunday, in an earlier call, Trump had hinted at potential sanctions against Russia if Putin refused a ceasefire. However, by Monday, he reversed his position, expressing disinterest in further entangling the U.S. in what he called "a war we shouldn’t have been involved in." Still, European leaders reportedly took some reassurance from Trump's private clarity, especially his indication that the U.S. would not halt weapons supplies to Ukraine—as long as Europe or Ukraine funded the effort.
Further muddying diplomatic waters, Trump suggested he might dispatch Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Keith Kellogg to upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks at the Vatican. However, by Monday, he appeared noncommittal about any formal U.S. role in the negotiations. European leaders, meanwhile, stood firm on demanding an “unconditional ceasefire,” a term Trump later disputed—despite previously using it himself in a May 8 Truth Social post.
The divergence between U.S. and European strategies is becoming increasingly evident. While European Union officials favour a hardline stance and are pushing for an immediate ceasefire, Trump appears more focused on economic diplomacy, even expressing interest in restoring economic ties with Russia. Secretary of State Rubio’s refusal to label Putin a war criminal during a congressional hearing further suggests a softer U.S. posture under Trump’s leadership.
As diplomatic efforts yield little progress, the EU imposed a fresh round of sanctions against Moscow following the failed Trump-Putin call. These include asset freezes and travel bans on numerous Russian companies and individuals, as well as restrictions on nearly 200 Russian ships involved in covert oil trade to evade Western sanctions.
Despite Putin's promise to Trump that Russia is willing to work on a "memorandum" outlining a possible peace treaty, the reality on the ground remains bleak. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reinforced the EU’s stance by demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, expressing disappointment in Russia's unwillingness to compromise.
As the war enters its fourth year, the gap between U.S. rhetoric and European action is growing more pronounced. Trump's inconsistent approach, coupled with EU resolve, underscores the complexity and fragility of the international response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
