Leaders Of Four European Countries Discussed Ukraine With Trump
- 19.05.2025, 8:22
Sanctions against Russia were discussed.
Ahead of an expected conversation between U.S. Presidents Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin, the heads of state and government of Germany, Britain, France and Italy discussed the situation in Ukraine with the American leader on the evening of Sunday, May 18, according to "Deutsche Welle".
"Late in the evening on Sunday (May 18. - Ed.) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Friedrich Merz) discussed with US President Donald Trump and the heads of state and government of France, Britain and Italy the situation in Ukraine and the upcoming telephone conversation between the US and Russian presidents. The exchange of views will continue directly after the conversation between Trump and Putin scheduled for Monday," German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius (Stefan Kornelius) said in a written press statement.
For its part, the press office of United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer clarified that the conversation between the European leaders and the U.S. president focused "on the situation in Ukraine and the catastrophic cost of war for both sides."
According to the spokeswoman, among other things, they discussed the invocation of sanctions if Russia does not show serious efforts to achieve a ceasefire and to conduct peace talks.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote the following in his microblog X following the four European leaders' communication with Donald Trump: "Tomorrow, President Putin must show that he wants peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by President Trump and supported by Ukraine and Europe."
Donald Trump earlier said on his Truth Social network that he intends to call Putin on May 19, followed by Zelensky and "various NATO members."
"The goals of the conversations will be to end the 'bloodbath' in which on average more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week are killed, as well as trade," the White House chief indicated. He expressed hope that it would be a "productive day" and that a cease-fire in Ukraine could eventually be agreed upon.