Closed-Door NATO Summit Dinner in The Hague: Efforts to Persuade Trump to Tighten Sanctions Against Russia and New Diplomatic Strategies
During an unofficial part of the NATO summit held in The Hague, high-level discussions took place in private among allied leaders regarding the future of sanctions policy against the Russian Federation. At this exclusive dinner, participants tried to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to alter his stance and support stricter economic measures aimed at curbing Russian aggression. According to Czech President Petr Pavel, the U.S. leader was noticeably hesitant, despite hearing arguments advocating for increased pressure. "We talked to him very consistently and collectively, convincing him that it’s time to significantly strengthen sanctions and increase financial pressure on Russia. This is not about causing the collapse of the Russian economy — that’s not in our interest — but about making Russia realize that there are no alternatives to dialogue," Pavel explained in an interview with CNN Prima News. "He remains cautious but recognizes that this is a very effective tool." Following these discussions, Trump informed allies of his success in negotiations with China, where high tariffs prompted Beijing to change their position. The Czech side used this as an argument to advocate for a similar approach toward Russia, emphasizing that if China felt the effects within a month, Russia’s more fragile economy could experience similar impacts within two weeks. Additionally, it was reported that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed that Trump supports a bill for new sanctions against Russia, which would impose tariffs of 500% on countries that buy Russian oil and do not assist Ukraine. Major buyers of Russian oil include China and India. Regarding Ukraine’s objectives at the NATO summit in The Hague, they were pragmatic and realistic, with Kyiv achieving part of their goals. An analysis by Vladimir Kravchenko in ZN.UA examines the phenomenon of 'Trumpization' of NATO and assesses what Ukraine obtained and how it affected Putin’s stance on the global stage.