Trump Spoke to EU Leaders, Agreed that Russia’s Ceasefire Terms ‘Unacceptable’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ European leaders joined U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday in condemning Russia’s demands during ceasefire talks with Ukraine as “unacceptable.” Following brief, unproductive negotiations in Turkey, the European Political Community summit in Albania became a rallying point for coordinated pressure on Moscow. The U.S., France, Germany, and other key nations plan new sanctions and unified diplomatic responses.
Trump, Europe Reject Russia’s Ceasefire Demands: Quick Looks
- Russia and Ukraine held peace talks in Istanbul, ending in under two hours.
- Russia demanded Ukrainian troop withdrawals, which Kyiv and allies deemed unacceptable.
- Trump aligned with EU leaders including France, Germany, and the U.K. on a joint response.
- European leaders vowed to coordinate sanctions if Russia continues delaying.
- Zelenskyy warned the world must act if Russia refuses to engage seriously.
- Putin’s absence from the talks drew criticism, including from NATO’s Mark Rutte.
- Macron and von der Leyen said new sanctions are imminent, targeting Russia’s energy and finance sectors.
- Trump promised direct talks with Putin “as soon as we can set it up.”
- The EPC summit in Albania served as a unity platform for over 50 nations.
- A new European sanctions package could be approved as early as Tuesday.
Trump Spoke to EU Leaders, Agreed that Russia’s Ceasefire Terms ‘Unacceptable’
Deep Look
TIRANA, Albania — European leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump issued a united rebuke of Russia’s stance in ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine, following failed talks in Istanbul on Friday that ended in under two hours. Moscow’s demand for Ukrainian troop withdrawals from large areas of contested territory was deemed unacceptable by the West.
Speaking from the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Albania, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that leaders had spoken directly with Trump following their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“We just had a meeting with President Zelenskyy and then a phone call with President Trump to discuss the developments in the negotiations today, and the Russian position is clearly unacceptable,” Starmer told reporters.
“As a result of that meeting with President Zelenskyy, under discussion with President Trump, we are now closely aligning and coordinating our responses and will continue to do so,” he said.
“The Russian position is clearly unacceptable,” Starmer said. “We are now closely aligning and coordinating our responses and will continue to do so.”
According to Starmer, the consensus included leaders from France, Germany, and Poland, underscoring an unusually strong transatlantic alignment around Trump’s calls for tougher measures on Moscow.
Ceasefire Talks Collapse in Istanbul
The first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since 2022 took place Friday in Istanbul, brokered by Turkish officials. However, the talks quickly broke down. According to a senior Ukrainian official, Russia introduced last-minute demands, including a Ukrainian military retreat from areas they currently control.
Though Ukraine came prepared with a U.S.- and EU-backed plan for a 30-day ceasefire, Russia’s counterproposal stalled progress. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged both parties to take the opportunity seriously, but his efforts fell short.
Europe Stands with Trump: Coordinated Pushback
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Russia’s stance:
“It’s unacceptable that, for a second time, Russia hasn’t responded to the demands made by the Americans, supported by Ukraine and the Europeans.”
Macron added: “We will continue to coordinate with our European partners — the coalition of the willing — and the United States. There will be new contacts and feedback in the coming hours.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “The diplomatic efforts that we have made so far have unfortunately failed because of Russia’s lack of readiness to take the first steps in the right direction now.”
“But we will not give up; we will continue and we will coordinate well on the European side, together with the Americans,” Merz said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz added:
“We will continue and we will coordinate well on the European side, together with the Americans.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is finalizing a new sanctions package, targeting:
- Russia’s shadow oil fleet, used to bypass embargoes
- The Nord Stream pipeline consortium
- Russian banks and financial institutions
The sanctions are expected to be approved as early as Tuesday, with support from EU foreign ministers.
Zelenskyy: ‘World Must Respond’
In Tirana, President Zelenskyy called for global pressure on Moscow if the talks failed to produce results.
“Ukraine is ready to take all realistic steps to end this war,” Zelenskyy said. But he warned: “If it turns out that the Russian delegation really is just theatrical and can’t deliver any results today, the world must respond.”
That reaction, he said, should include “sanctions against Russia’s energy sector and banks.”
Zelenskyy has consistently supported efforts to secure a truce but criticized Moscow’s lack of sincerity, especially following Putin’s refusal to attend the Istanbul summit in person.
‘Putin made a mistake’
Zelenskyy’s remarks came after Putin declined to attend face-to-face talks in Istanbul. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also criticized Putin:
“I think Putin made a mistake by sending a low-level delegation,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said as he arrived for the summit under a steady drizzle. “The ball is clearly in his part of the field now, in his court. He has to play ball. He has to be serious about wanting peace.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that it was clear that “President Zelenskyy was ready to meet but President Putin never showed up, and this shows his true belief. So we will increase the pressure.”
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni stressed that efforts to reach a deal on Ukraine must continue.
“I think … that we must not throw in the towel. I think we must insist, we must insist for an unconditional ceasefire and a serious peace agreement that includes guarantees of security for Ukraine,” she said.
Trump’s Role: Diplomacy Through Pressure
“I think it’s time for us to just do it.”
Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg and Secretary of State Marco Rubio led coordination efforts with Ukrainian and EU officials ahead of the Istanbul talks.
Both Trump and European leaders suggested further diplomatic engagement was contingent on Russia abandoning its “gamesmanship” and showing a real commitment to peace.
EPC Summit: More Than Symbolism
The summit — themed “New Europe in a New World” — served as a venue for both formal and behind-the-scenes diplomacy. The leaders of over 50 countries and organizations met in Tirana, hosted by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, fresh off a re-election victory.
Rama praised the gathering as a symbol of Albania’s EU aspirations, calling it “a motivation to continue further on.”
The EPC, originally proposed by Macron, aims to strengthen European security and political coordination across both EU and non-EU nations, including the U.K., Turkey, and Balkan states. Russia and Belarus remain excluded.
The next summit is scheduled for Denmark later this year.
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