Czech president warns US exit from Ukraine talks would be a gift to the Kremlin
Photo: Czech President Petr Pavel (Getty Images)
Czech President Petr Pavel has warned that the United States' withdrawal from the ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine will be a gift for the Kremlin, reports Euractiv.
“I perceive Donald Trump's statements as an expression of frustration that things are not going the way he hoped – namely, that he would be able to quickly reach an agreement with President (Vladimir) Putin and be able to declare peace in Ukraine while also restoring economic relations with Russia,” the Czech news agency quoted Pavel as saying.
In his opinion, Moscow is deliberately delaying the process by talking about “a memorandum that might eventually lead to negotiations."
According to Pavel, this allows the Kremlin to win a few months and avoid responsibility.
Pavel also emphasized the need for coordinated pressure on Russia. He noted that after Washington announced plans to impose 500% tariffs on countries that trade energy with Russia, Moscow became increasingly concerned.
“I think the time has finally come to have a very serious conversation with our American allies about how to design economic and financial measures of such calibre that Russia will truly feel their impact,” the Czech president added.
He urged Europe to remain united on sanctions and avoid actions that could be interpreted as easing pressure on Russia.
Trump's position
US President Donald Trump, after talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin, told Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders that Kyiv and Moscow need to find a way out of the war on their own.
According to the unnamed officials, Trump also dropped his own threats to join a European pressure campaign that would have included new sanctions against Russia.
On May 19, Trump called Putin and Zelenskyy. Trump spoke with the Ukrainian president twice, before and after calling Putin.
Read more about Trump's call with Putin in RBC-Ukraine's report.
