"Behind the scenes: White House officials are losing patience with European leaders, whom they claim are pushing Ukraine to hold out for unrealistic territorial concessions by Russia. Axios has learned that the sanctions the U.S. is urging Europe to adopt against Russia include a complete cessation of all oil and gas purchases - plus secondary tariffs from the EU on India and China, similar to those already imposed on India by the U.S."
"What they're thinking: The Europeans are said to be pushing Zelensky to hold out for a "better deal" - a maximalist approach that has exacerbated the war, Trump's inner circle argues. The U.S. officials believe British and French officials are being more constructive. But they complain that other major European countries want the U.S. to bear the full cost of the war, while putting no skin in the game themselves."
"The big picture: After his summits with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump repeatedly said the next step must be a Putin-Zelensky summit. So far, the Russians have refused. At the same time, the Ukrainians have rejected any discussion on possible territorial concessions unless the Russians come to the table. Trump was visibly frustrated about the situation during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. 'Everybody is posturing. It's all bullshit,' he said."
White House officials are pressing Europe to enact a full cessation of Russian oil and gas purchases and to impose EU secondary tariffs on India and China, mirroring U.S. measures. U.S. officials express impatience with several European leaders for encouraging Ukraine to hold out for maximal territorial concessions from Russia, which officials say prolongs the conflict while expecting America to shoulder costs. British and French officials are seen as more constructive, but other major European countries are criticized for contributing little. Trump has pushed for a Putin‑Zelensky summit, but Russia has refused and Ukraine will not concede territory without talks.
Read at Axios
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