Europe races to keep Donald Trump participating in the Ukraine talks Russia

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European capitals launched a wave of diplomatic efforts to maintain pressure on Russia and persuade the administration of US President Donald Trump not to stay away from peace talks in Ukraine.

Multiple calls and meetings took place on Tuesday between European leaders, Ukrainian and senior security officials after a phone call between Trump and Vladimir Putin, in which the US President indicated that he would leave Russia and Ukraine to settle them between the conditions for ending war.

“It is very important for all of us that the United States does not distance and endeavors peace talks, because the only person who benefits from this is Putin,” said President Voludmir Zelinski late Monday.

Tuesday’s discussions focused on the roads that European countries could impose new sanctions on Russia, perhaps without participation in the United States, and how the White House could be convinced to resume efforts to a ceasefire.

“We need to find a way to ensure this … the United States remains involved,” said one of the officials.

On Tuesday, Zelinski said, “It is clear that Russia is trying to buy time to continue its war and profession.” He said that Ukraine was working with its European partners “to ensure pressure on the Russians to change their behavior.”

He said he had a “good conversation” with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, who was defending NATO security guarantees to Ukraine after the war. “As always, great ideas,” said Zellinski.

Ukraine was hoping to secure some “joint positions” with European allies, a Ukrainian official said in the discussions of the Financial Times.

“We clearly see that Trump wants to get out of the talks,” said the Ukrainian official. “The goal is to keep Americans in conversations and find some common view (on) how to secure a ceasefire.”

The UK and the European Union announced on Tuesday that more sanctions against Russia, targeting lenders and other companies that help Moscow to overcome Western restrictions.

British Foreign Secretary David Lami said that Putin’s continuous strikes on Ukraine “show his true colors as a warm owner.”

Lami added: “We were clear that delaying peace efforts will not only double our solution to help Ukraine to defend itself and use our sanctions to restrict Putin’s war machine.”

The Kaja Calas diplomat in the European Union said that the latest sanctions that targeted the Russian Oil Company Surgutneftegas and about 200 fleet ships remained aimed at showing that “those who enable Russia face severe consequences.”

“While Putin pretends to be interested in peace, more sanctions in business … the longer Russia continues in its illegal and brutal war, the more striking our response will be.”

A senior Russian official described Trump experts with Putin on Monday that he went well to the point that the two leaders do not want to say goodbye. Trump then announced that Russia and Ukraine “will start immediately” negotiations on preparations for peace talks without the United States as a mediator.

After inviting Putin, Trump called Zelinski, British leaders, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and the European Commission, who were shocked by what he told them about his discussion with the Russian president.

Trump’s discourse is sharply contrasting with the Western warning that he supported earlier this month with Putin’s threat with additional penalties if the ceasefire is not carried out for 30 days that Ukraine already agreed to.

“America said last week that if Russia does not agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire, there will be consequences,” Class said. “We want to see these consequences from the American side. We have not seen (the United States) pressure on Russia from these talks.”

Estonia’s Defense Minister Hano Pivor said that the European Union was supporting the new sanctions proposed by the American Senator Lindsay Graham, but it is not clear what Trump will do: “So the question is: What will be the message from the White House?”

“It is clear that Vladimir Putin is still playing for time, and you can see it very clearly. (He) still does not care seriously about peace,” said Boris Pistorius, when he reached the European Union’s ministerial meetings in Brussels.

He said: “What the European Union can do and must be done is the tightening of the nail of the sanctions,” but he acknowledged: “This is really relatively clear and not easy at the same time“

Zelenskyy repeated Ukraine’s readiness for any negotiation format that has achieved results. But if Russia continues to put “unrealistic circumstances and undermine progress, there should be severe consequences.”

“There is no doubt that the war should end at the negotiating table,” he said. However, “proposals on the schedule should be clear and realistic.”