Trump publicly informs European leaders of his stance on Ukraine before meeting with Putin
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, made a significant statement to European leaders during a recent phone conversation.
He clearly outlined his position regarding the upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for August 15.
The main message was his firm refusal to discuss Ukrainian territory during the talks.
According to CNN, citing several European diplomats familiar with the call, Trump emphasized the need for an unconditional ceasefire but insisted that Ukraine’s territorial issues remain off the table.Sources indicate that Trump did not explicitly use the term ‘unconditional’ ceasefire, but highlighted that such a truce would be viewed as a gesture of goodwill from Russia.
At the same time, he stressed that he would not negotiate over Ukraine’s land, creating the impression that Washington would not consider Russian proposals involving territorial gains in exchange for peace.
This message became the primary takeaway for European officials, who argued that Ukraine should be included in negotiations concerning its territory.However, expectations for the meeting remain modest.
Despite this, Trump expressed support for security guarantees for Ukraine, which would involve the United States.
This was positively perceived by European diplomats.
Nonetheless, a former Trump official warned that the president often tries to keep allies close, and unpredictable developments could occur.Another significant topic was the discussion of new sanctions against Russia, including secondary sanctions targeting China if it were to purchase Russian oil in substantial amounts, supporting Moscow’s energy sector.
Trump reportedly mentioned considering these measures but did not make any formal commitments.
A third diplomat suggested that the US might soon impose new sanctions if the negotiations fail.
Overall, the situation remains tense, and expectations for the outcome of the meeting are low, although discussions about future American actions regarding Ukraine are actively underway.