President Donald Trump has called on European leaders to stop funding Russia’s war in Ukraine by cutting off oil imports and applying economic pressure on China for supporting Vladimir Putin’s war efforts. During a recent meeting in Paris, Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders gathered for a Coalition of the Willing summit, where Trump emphasized the necessity of halting Russian oil purchases by the EU. The White House official highlighted that Russia received approximately $1.3 billion from EU oil sales in one year, urging Europe to stop this flow of funds to the war effort.
Despite significant reductions in Russian oil imports, the EU has not completely halted its energy imports from Moscow, and this has drawn attention from Trump. The official noted that the U.S. under Trump has not been a member of the Coalition aimed at supporting Ukraine, and Trump was invited to the summit by French President Emmanuel Macron and European leaders. The White House also confirmed that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff attended the meeting, where he interacted with Zelenskyy, highlighting ongoing diplomatic engagement.
Zelenskyy, in his comments, stressed the critical role of economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to the war. He pointed out that depriving Russia’s war machine of economic resources is essential for achieving peace. The summit also discussed potential military measures, including the deployment of troops to Ukraine following a ceasefire agreement, as mentioned by Macron. However, the specifics of the agreements remain undisclosed, and the international community is waiting for further details on the outcomes of the meeting.
Meanwhile, Putin’s invitation for Zelenskyy to meet in Moscow has been met with skepticism, as it is seen as a disingenuous gesture despite the pressure from Trump for the meeting. Trump has stated his intention to speak with Putin in the coming days, emphasizing the U.S.’s role in the global political landscape. The meeting’s focus on economic and military strategies against Russia reflects the broader geopolitical tensions and the complex interplay of international alliances and financial strategies during the ongoing war in Ukraine.