Senior White House officials have accused some European leaders of undermining President Trump’s efforts to end the Ukraine war, claiming they publicly support peace talks while privately blocking progress, says report.
Senior White House officials believe some European leaders are publicly supporting President Trump’s push to end the Ukraine war, while quietly blocking progress behind the scenes, Axios reported.
The Biden administration has asked the Treasury Department to prepare sanctions Europe could impose on Russia, including a total ban on oil and gas imports and secondary tariffs on India and China, similar to those already imposed by the US.
Two weeks after Trump’s Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, little progress has been made. Frustrated aides blame European allies, not Trump or Putin.
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“The Europeans don’t get to prolong this war and backdoor unreasonable expectations, while also expecting America to bear the cost,” a senior White House official told Axios. “If Europe wants to escalate this war, that will be up to them. But they will be hopelessly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”
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According to US officials, some European capitals are urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to demand bigger concessions from Moscow—an approach Washington considers unrealistic. “Getting to a deal is an art of the possible.
But some of the Europeans continue to operate in a fairy-tale land that ignores the fact it takes two to tango,” another senior official said. While the White House views Britain and France as constructive, it accuses other European allies of leaving America to shoulder most of the costs.