Two weeks after Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, officials say little progress has been made toward peace and frustration is growing within the White House. Aides argue that responsibility lies with European allies rather than Trump or Putin.
Behind the scenes, officials claim European leaders are pressing Ukraine to seek unrealistic territorial concessions. Axios reports that Washington is urging Europe to halt all oil and gas imports from Russia and adopt secondary tariffs on India and China.
“The Europeans don’t get to prolong this war and backdoor unreasonable expectations, while also expecting America to bear the cost,” a top White House official told Axios. “If Europe wants to escalate this war, that will be up to them. But they will be hopelessly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”
The U.S. side contends that while Britain and France are playing a constructive role, other European states want America to shoulder the costs while contributing little themselves. “Getting to a deal is an art of the possible,” the official said. “But some of the Europeans continue to operate in a fairy-tale land that ignores the fact it takes two to tango.”
Trump has called for a direct summit between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but Russia has so far refused. Ukraine, meanwhile, has rejected any territorial discussions unless Moscow comes to the table.
Trump expressed irritation at the lack of progress during a Cabinet meeting, saying: “Everybody is posturing. It’s all bullshit.” Ongoing Russian air strikes on Kyiv and Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities have further dimmed hopes for a breakthrough.
“Perhaps both sides of this war are not ready to end it themselves. The president wants it to end, but the leaders of these two countries need it to end and must want it to end as well,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.
A senior White House official told Axios that Trump may consider pausing diplomatic efforts until one or both sides show greater flexibility. “We are going to sit back and watch. Let them fight it out for a while and see what happens,” the official said.
Some U.S. officials now regard European leaders as a significant obstacle, despite Trump’s cordial meeting with them and Zelensky less than two weeks ago. European officials have rejected the criticism, saying no such gap exists between public and private positions.
A senior European official told Axios that European countries are already preparing new sanctions against Russia. On Friday, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak in New York, but a source said no major progress emerged despite discussions on a possible Putin-Zelensky summit.
Source: Axios.
