Trump to Europe: Stop buying Russian oil, put pressure on China

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump told European leaders on Thursday that Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that he said is helping Moscow fund its war against Ukraine, a White House official said.

He joined a call of the “Coalition of the Willing” countries, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, who were meeting on ways to help Ukraine repel Russian invaders.

“President Macron and European leaders called President Trump into their ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting,” the official said.

“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.”

At the same time, the official said, the US president “also emphasised that European leaders must place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war efforts.”

As the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by Trump hit India badly, Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday that New Delhi was in talks with Washington for a bilateral trade agreement

Read more: India still eyeing US trade deal as Trump tariffs hit cotton badly

It means the hawkish approach adopted by Trump is working despite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi trying to mend India’s relations with China.

FINALISING US SUPPORT

Later, Macron, who was speaking after the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris, said the US support for Europe-sponsored security guarantees for Ukraine after a ceasefire or peace deal with Russia will be finalised “in the coming days”.

Macron also said that European countries would impose new sanctions on Russia — “in collaboration with the United States” — should Russia continue to refuse a peace deal.

POST-WAR SECURITY

“We have today 26 countries who have formally committed — some others have not yet taken a position — to deploy as a ‘reassurance force’ troops in Ukraine, or be present on the ground, in the sea, or in the air,” Macron told reporters.

He added that “this force does not seek to wage any war on Russia”.

Read more: US says Russian strikes on Kyiv threaten Trump peace plans

ZELENSKY HAILS FIRST ‘CONCRETE STEP’

In this connection, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his European allies for agreeing to send troops to Ukraine as a post-war security guarantee, describing the move as a first “concrete step”.

“Twenty-six countries have agreed to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. I think that today, for the first time in a long time, this is the first such serious concrete step,” Zelensky said at a press conference with Macron.

Donald Trump on Thursday voiced frustration with EU countries that still buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after the US president spoke to him and European leaders during a summit on Ukraine.

“President Trump is very dissatisfied that Russia’s oil is being purchased by Europe. Among others, there are two countries, we know that these are Hungary and Slovakia,” Zelensky added.

ACT TOGETHER

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb said Trump in the call suggested the US and Europe should act together on further sanctions against Russia, and that sanctions on oil and gas were up for discussion.

“Trump’s approach was very much that we must act together on sanctions policy and now look for ways in particular to halt Russia’s war machine by economic means,” Stubb told Finnish media after the meeting.

“In that case there are two targets, namely oil and gas,” he said, adding that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump’s close advisers would discuss the matter over the next 24 hours.

It’s a developing story. Details to follow.