EditTrump-Putin call on Ukraine war sparks alarm across EU capitals
Kyiv and its European partners fear the U.S. may be stepping back from pressuring Moscow
The debrief following the two-hour phone call on 19 May between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent shockwaves through European capitals, deepening concerns among Ukraine and its allies about a potential shift in U.S. policy on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The conversation, which yielded no immediate ceasefire but opened the door for prolonged negotiations, has been perceived as a setback for Kyiv and its European partners, who fear the U.S. may be stepping back from pressuring Moscow. The call, part of Trump’s broader diplomatic push to end the three-year conflict, has elicited sharp reactions from EU leaders, who are scrambling to maintain a unified front and ensure their inclusion in any peace process.
In the weeks before the phone call, Trump had threatened to slap tougher sanctions on Russia if it did not show progress towards peace, a move Ukraine hoped would convince Putin to step back from his maximalist demands in any negotiations.
A shift in U.S. stance
But in his conversation with Putin, the U.S. president reportedly dropped his earlier insistence on an unconditional 30-day ceasefire that he hoped would kickstart what promise to be long and tortuous peace talks.
That “stick” approach is gone for now, replaced by the “carrot” of economic partnership with the United States if and when the war ends.
“In the phone call on Sunday with European leaders, Trump had agreed on the proposed approach – ask for (an) unconditional ceasefire and apply sanctions if nothing is moving,” said a European diplomat as quoted by Reuters, speaking anonymously to be frank about Europe’s disappointment.
“But he obviously dropped this idea when he talked to Putin … It is impossible to trust him for more than one day. He does not seem to be interested in Ukraine at all.”
Trump said Russia and Ukraine would immediately start negotiations toward ending the war, adding later that he thought “some progress is being made.”
When Trump spoke with European leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the Putin call, a person familiar with the discussion described their reaction to Trump’s position as one of “shock.”
Putin, meanwhile, described the call as “informative, frank, and very useful,” but reiterated Russia’s stance that any resolution must address the “root causes” of the conflict, a reference to Ukraine’s pro-European alignment and the NATO enlargement in Eastern Europe.
EU capitals react with alarm
The Trump-Putin call, which excluded European leaders, has sparked widespread unease across EU capitals, with many viewing it as a sign of U.S. disengagement from transatlantic unity. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas delivered one of the sharpest rebukes, calling the U.S. approach “appeasement” and warning that any agreement excluding Ukraine and Europe would be a “dirty deal” destined to fail.
“Any quick fix is a dirty deal,” Kallas told reporters in Brussels, emphasizing that “you need Europe and Ukraine to also implement the agreement.” Her comments reflect a broader European concern that Trump’s bilateral approach with Putin risks sidelining the EU, which has provided nearly $140 billion in aid to Ukraine since 2022, surpassing U.S. contributions of $120 billion.
In Berlin, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius expressed frustration, stating, “Putin is clearly playing for time. Unfortunately, we have to say Putin is not really interested in peace.” German officials, alongside counterparts in France and the UK, met in Paris on 18 May to issue a joint statement pledging continued support for Ukraine and insisting that “Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations.” The statement underscored the EU’s determination to counter Russia’s demands, which include Ukraine ceding occupied territories and abandoning NATO aspirations—conditions Kyiv and its allies deem unacceptable.
French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting the Paris meeting, called for “strong and credible security guarantees” for Ukraine, warning that Russia’s aggression poses a threat beyond Ukraine’s borders. Similarly, British Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized, “Let’s not forget, Russia remains a threat well beyond Ukraine,” urging the EU to maintain pressure on Moscow through sanctions. The UK, alongside the EU, announced new sanctions on 20 May targeting Russia’s military and energy sectors, a move seen as a direct response to the Trump-Putin call’s failure to secure concessions.
Kyiv’s precarious position
Zelenskyy, who spoke with Trump before and after the Putin call, expressed cautious optimism but stressed that “no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine” could be accepted. He accused Putin of “trying to buy time” to prolong the war, a sentiment echoed by his chief of staff, Mikhailo Podolyak, who warned that Russia “still seeks war, destruction, and killing.”
Kyiv’s concerns are heightened by Trump’s apparent willingness to defer to Moscow, especially after his team suggested Ukraine might need to cede territory, a stance articulated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a NATO meeting in February.
European strategy and divisions
European leaders, stunned by Trump’s shift, are grappling with how to respond. A German government statement noted that Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Macron, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, briefed on the call, opted to “increase pressure on the Russian side through sanctions”. The EU is preparing its 18th sanctions package, though Kallas acknowledged the challenge, stating, “It is difficult and becoming more difficult.”
However, divisions within the EU persist. Italy, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has adopted a more pragmatic stance, expressing scepticism about deploying European troops to enforce a potential peace deal, as suggested by Macron. Hungary, led by Trump ally Viktor Orbán, continues to obstruct EU decisions requiring unanimity, complicating a cohesive response. Analysts like Orysia Lutsevych from Chatham House warn that Russia’s battlefield gains and diplomatic stalling give Putin the upper hand, leaving Europe struggling to organize a unified strategy.
Looking ahead
The Trump-Putin call has exposed the fragility of transatlantic coordination, with European capitals fearing a U.S. retreat from Ukraine’s defence. While Trump insists progress is being made, his reluctance to impose new sanctions and his focus on trade opportunities with Russia – highlighted by his comment that Russia wants “large-scale TRADE” post-war – have fuelled distrust. The coming weeks, with potential talks in Istanbul or the Vatican, will test whether Europe can reclaim a seat at the negotiating table or face further marginalization in shaping Ukraine’s future.
Sources: Reuters, Politico, Deutsche Welle, Euractiv, Chatham House, edited by g.g.
Caption: File photo. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on the phone on 7 January 2025. [EPA-EFE/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV / KREMLIN / POOL]
Updated: May 21, 2025 - 06:27
