WSJ: Trump Tells European Leaders Putin Is Not Interested in Peace Because He Believes He Is Winning
U.S. President Donald Trump recently conveyed to European leaders that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not seeking peace, as he believes Russia is “winning” the war.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to The Wall Street Journal, which cited three sources familiar with the discussions.
In a private conversation with key European leaders on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he is winning the war in Ukraine and is therefore not prepared to pursue peace negotiations at this time. This admission aligns with long-held European assessments but marks a significant shift from Trump’s previous public statements, where he often expressed the belief that Putin genuinely desires peace.
The call, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, underscored the complex diplomatic efforts underway to gauge Russia’s position and influence U.S. policy.
While the Europeans had been pushing Trump to intensify pressure on Putin through additional sanctions, particularly if Russia refused a ceasefire, the U.S. president appeared reluctant to take such steps. Earlier in the weekend, Trump indicated he might impose sanctions if Moscow resisted halting hostilities, but by Monday, he favored facilitating lower-level discussions between Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican over escalating punitive measures.
Trump’s reluctance to embrace harsher sanctions comes despite persistent appeals from European leaders and Zelenskyy, who stress that stronger U.S. pressure is essential to curtail Russian aggression.
European officials considered the phone call an important moment for clarifying Putin’s stance, which remains resolutely opposed to ending the war under current conditions. The discussion also reinforced the view among Europeans that they must continue to provide robust support to Ukraine, particularly as they anticipate limited changes in U.S. weapons supplies.
Looking ahead, plans are underway for lower-level peace talks at the Vatican, anticipated to commence in mid-June. However, the outcome remains uncertain amid ongoing disagreements over ceasefire conditions and Russia’s intentions.
Read more on The Gaze: Trump's Peace Deal: How a Potential Compromise Threatens Ukraine, Europe & the World