US, EU To Beef Up Ceasefire Pressure on Russia With Threats of ‘Massive Sanctions’

WASHINGTON DC – The United States and European Union are considering joint coercive measures, including sanctions, in order to force Russia to accept the truce terms proposed by President Donald Trump, two Western officials told Kyiv Post on Friday.

Ukraine in March accepted the Trump administration’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, to be followed by talks on matters including the location of an armistice line, possible deployment of a European peacekeeping force and other key steps.

The Kremlin has yet to accept the plans which have recently geared up a notch after the US President warned that he could hurt Russia’s economy if it didn’t “sign the deal.”

Speaking to Kyiv Post, Western officials highlighted that the idea of joint US-EU measures to increase pressure on Russia was born early last week during the visit of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to Washington DC.

The EU is currently in the process of putting together its 17th sanctions package against Russia. During his meeting with senior Trump officials in Washington DC, the top French diplomat suggested coordinated efforts to beef up Trump’s ceasefire calls with “massive sanctions” on Russia.

Barrot also met with US Senator Lindsey Graham to discuss the timing of his bipartisan package of sanctions aimed at threatening Moscow into accepting a ceasefire. Graham’s legislation, S.1241 – Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, has already gained the support from over 70 Senators, including the Senate Minority and Majority leaders – Chuck Schumer and John Thune.

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French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that he had spoken with Trump Thursday night “several times” after the US President called for Moscow and Kyiv to agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face potential sanctions. On Saturday, Macron arrived in Kyiv, along with the leaders of Germany, Poland and the UK, to speak directly President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“We must all work towards this goal without delay, false pretenses, or dilatory tactics. Ukraine has already expressed its support for such a ceasefire nearly two months ago,” the French leader wrote on the social media platform X.

“I now expect Russia to do the same. Failing to do so, we are ready to respond firmly, together with all Europeans and in close coordination with the United States,” he added.

Trump also spoke Wednesday with Zelensky and later posted on Truth Social that he was calling for “ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.” If it doesn’t pan out, Trump posted, the US and its partners would impose “further sanctions.”

On Friday, the US President repeated his calls to “both parties” saying that his message to Putin and Zelensky was to “get this stupid war finished.”