EU secretly voices opposition to Ukraine is ‘all on us now’
(MENAFN) European leaders were reportedly caught off guard by U.S. President Donald Trump's refusal to back their push to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent call between the two leaders. According to the Financial Times, a senior European diplomat summarized the sentiment: “He [Trump] is stepping away… Supporting and financing Ukraine, putting pressure on Russia: that’s all on us now.”
The phone call on Monday marked the third public discussion between Trump and Putin since Trump took office in January. Both leaders described the exchange as constructive. Trump emphasized that the Ukraine conflict should be resolved through direct dialogue between Moscow and Kiev and insisted it is primarily a European issue, one the U.S. should never have been deeply involved in.
Trump personally briefed the leaders of Ukraine, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and the European Commission, reiterating his unwillingness to increase pressure on Moscow. Sources told the Financial Times that this stance was interpreted by EU officials and NATO allies as a diplomatic win for Russia.
European governments had been relying on continued U.S. backing—especially through sanctions and military aid—to help force concessions from Russia. Trump’s reluctance to escalate pressure is now seen as a significant shift in U.S. policy, leaving Europe to bear the burden of supporting Ukraine alone.
Last week, peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine resumed in Istanbul, with Ukraine agreeing to attend after the U.S. signaled support. European leaders delayed their own deadline for a ceasefire in hopes the talks would gain traction. Ukraine and its allies had previously insisted on a 30-day unconditional truce from Moscow as a precondition for negotiations.
The Kremlin has since called for a draft memorandum that could lead to a formal peace agreement, though spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned that the process will take time. Trump, meanwhile, expressed optimism, suggesting that peace progress could yield economic benefits for all parties involved—but warned that if talks fail, the U.S. might reconsider its role as a mediator.
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