During a telephone conversation with European leaders, US President Donald Trump said that Vladimir Putin is not ready to end the war against Ukraine because he considers himself the winner. About this informs The Wall Street Journal.
“This admission was something European leaders had long believed about Putin, but it was the first time they heard it from Trump. It also contradicted Trump’s frequent public statements that he believed Putin genuinely wanted peace.” – says the publication.
Despite the realization that Putin does not seek peace, Trump did not take, in the opinion of European leaders and President Volodymyr Zelensky, the expected step — he did not intensify efforts in the confrontation with Russia.
Ahead of his two-hour conversation with Putin, Trump had a preliminary phone call with European leaders in which he hinted he might impose sanctions if Moscow reneges on the ceasefire. However, by May 19, he changed his position, declaring his desire to start negotiations between Russia and Ukraine at a lower level as soon as possible through the mediation of the Vatican.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, President of France Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Maloni and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen took part in this conversation. The communication was the culmination of a diplomatic offensive that European leaders had launched about ten days earlier in an attempt to persuade Trump to pressure Putin.
