Europe Agrees to ‘Increase Pressure’ on Russia Following Trump-Putin Call

Berlin said Europe is ready to “increase pressure” on Russia via sanctions after US President Donald Trump briefed European leaders on his Monday phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Berlin also said the US has agreed to “tightly coordinate” talks on Ukraine with its European partners, according to AFP, citing the call readout for the discussions between Trump and the European leaders provided by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s spokesperson.

After his call with Putin, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social that he believed it “went very well.”

Putin failed to commit to a ceasefire or provide specifics, but stated that recent talks with Ukraine in Istanbul had put the two countries on “the right track” towards peace.

Putin also said Moscow is open to creating a “memorandum” with Kyiv toward peace settlements, including one on a ceasefire. 

Trump also spoke to Zelensky before his Monday call with Putin, and after on a joint call with European leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission

Zelensky told reporters on Monday evening that in his phone call, he asked Trump not to make decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine. 

“I asked him not to make any decisions about Ukraine without us before his conversation with Putin,” Zelensky said, according to AFP.

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Zelensky added that he has no details on Putin’s ceasefire memorandum proposal, and thus cannot comment. 

“Once we have received the memorandum or proposals from the Russians, we will be able to formulate our vision accordingly, as we see it,” he added. 

Later on Monday, in a post on X, Zelensky said the world should sanction Moscow if it “continues to drag out the war.” 

“If Russia refuses to stop the killings, refuses to release prisoners of war and hostages, if Putin puts forward unrealistic demands, this will mean that Russia continues to drag out the war, and deserves that Europe, America, and the world act accordingly, including with further sanctions.”