President Donald Trump is pressing European leaders to stop “funding” Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and to apply greater economic pressure on China for supporting Moscow.
The remarks came after a call between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders who gathered in Paris for the Coalition of the Willing summit. A White House official told The News Focus that Trump pointed to Russia’s continued fuel sales to the European Union, noting, “Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war – as Russia received nearly $1.3 billion in fuel sales from the EU in one year.”
Trump’s Call for Pressure on China
The official added that Trump urged European nations to confront Beijing over its role in aiding Russia. While the EU has significantly reduced oil imports from Moscow since the invasion, it has not completely severed ties—leaving a financial lifeline for the Kremlin.
Coalition Meeting in Paris
Although the United States under Trump has not formally joined the Coalition backing Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron invited him to participate in Thursday’s discussions. White House envoy Steve Witkoff attended the session in Paris, where he was seen greeting Zelenskyy.
Macron later described the summit as “real progress,” with reports indicating that 26 countries agreed to deploy forces by land, sea, or air to Ukraine once a ceasefire is achieved—a move Russian President Putin has condemned.
Zelenskyy Pushes for More Pressure
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for stronger economic measures to weaken Russia’s war machine. “The key to peace is depriving Russia of money and resources,” he said, also urging partners to help bolster Ukraine’s air defenses against relentless missile and drone strikes.
Rising Tensions With Moscow and Beijing
The Paris meeting coincided with Putin’s summit in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, underscoring the deepening alignment between Moscow, Beijing, and Pyongyang.
Putin has since invited Zelenskyy to meet in Moscow, an offer Ukrainian and Western officials have dismissed as insincere. Trump, meanwhile, said he intends to speak directly with Putin in the coming days.
