Trump Urges Europe to Halt Funding for Russia’s War in Ukraine
Former President Donald Trump is calling on European nations to stop their financial support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In a recent statement, he criticized European leaders for not doing enough to pressure China in relation to the conflict.
During a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at a summit in Paris, Trump highlighted the need for Europe to end its purchases of Russian oil. He pointed out that the European Union received about €1.1 billion (nearly $1.3 billion) from Russia for fuel sales in a single year.
Trump’s remarks came as leaders discussed their strategy at the “Coalition of the Willing” summit, which aims to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. He stressed that economic pressure needs to be applied to China as well for its support of Russia’s war efforts.
The European Union has made significant reductions in its import of Russian oil since the invasion began, but Trump’s comments suggest that there is still a long way to go in completely cutting ties with Russian energy.
White House officials noted that despite Trump’s absence from the coalition, French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders are actively engaging him in discussions about Ukraine’s defense.
The summit also saw U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff greeting Zelenskyy warmly, indicating continued diplomatic ties.
Macron characterized the summit as having made “real progress” on various fronts. Although specific outcomes were not disclosed, he mentioned that 26 countries have pledged to send troops to Ukraine once a ceasefire is established—something that has drawn sharp criticism from Putin.
In a recent tweet, Zelenskyy mentioned that the meeting aimed to increase pressure on Putin to bring an end to the war. He emphasized the importance of depriving Russia of financial resources to curb its military actions.
Additionally, Zelenskyy has proposed ways to bolster Ukraine’s air defense against ongoing attacks from Russian forces, although the White House has not confirmed any new commitments from the U.S. to aid Ukraine in this area.
The diplomatic dialogue continues as Putin invited Zelenskyy for discussions in Moscow, a move that many view skeptically given the ongoing tensions. Trump plans to have a chat with Putin soon, further indicating the complex web of international relations at play.
