US President Donald Trump urged European leaders to cease their purchases of Russian oil, cautioning that such transactions were enabling Moscow to finance its war in Ukraine. He further called upon European nations to amplify economic pressure on China due to its backing of Russia's invasion.
As reported, President Trump expressed these views during a conversation with the "Coalition of the Willing," a coalition of countries spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, aimed at discussing new strategies to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russia.
“President Macron and European leaders called President Trump into their ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting,” reports claim.
Speaking through video conference with European leaders in Paris, Trump said, "Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war".
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“President Trump emphasised that Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war, as Russia received 1.1 billion euros in fuel sales from the EU in one year. The president also emphasised that European leaders must place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war efforts.”
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who participated in the meeting, indicated that Trump is "very dissatisfied" with the European acquisition of Russian oil, specifically naming Hungary and Slovakia as purchasers.
Zelensky also mentioned that the discussion with Trump and the European leaders encompassed sanctions against Russia and initiatives to safeguard Ukraine's airspace.
Trump has previously warned of "severe consequences" for Putin if he fails to cease hostilities, although the US president is privately cautious that such actions could disrupt negotiations, according to Trump administration officials.
Meanwhile, he has sought to target nations that acquire Russian products and oil as a means to compel Putin to act. When asked if he is contemplating imposing sanctions on countries engaging in trade with Russia, Trump asserted that he has already taken such measures.
“We shared it with the partners today and President Trump,” Zelensky said.
“The Russian economy is pressured and all the countries who trade with Russia are pressured, and we will continue with this,” Zelensky said, adding that “secondary sanctions and special trade tariffs” can help.
"I have already implemented that concerning India," Trump stated, referring to his choice to increase tariffs on Indian imports of Russian oil to 50 percent to assist Russia in funding the war.
On his part, Zelensky emphasized the necessity of intensifying pressure on Moscow and on "all nations that engage in trade with Russia."
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Zelensky dismissed Putin's proposal earlier this week suggesting that he is prepared for a meeting between the two in Moscow.
“Our American partners told me that Putin had invited me to Moscow. In my opinion, if someone wants the meeting to not take place, they should invite me to Moscow,” he said.