US President Trump has issued a set of sweeping demands to the European Union on how to escalate pressure on Russia — but unnamed European diplomats told The Wall Street Journal they believe the plan is intentionally designed to fail.
Since taking office in January, President Trump has repeatedly pushed for Russia-Ukraine talks, allegedly to end the ongoing war. Moscow, however, continues to escalate attacks and rejects any peace proposals that fall short of Ukraine’s de facto capitulation. Despite multiple threats to impose new sanctions on Russia, Trump has so far taken no action.
Trump’s Russia demands spark alarm in Brussels
According to WSJ, Trump urged the EU to immediately halt purchases of Russian oil, impose tariffs on India and China over their trade with Moscow, and seize frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense.
The EU delayed a new sanctions package this week as leaders scrambled to respond. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said after speaking with Trump that the bloc would push for additional restrictions on Russia’s banking sector, crypto market, and energy system. This response falls far short of what Washington is pressing for.
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