Europe links new Russia sanctions to outcome of Istanbul talks between Putin and Zelenskyy - Bloomberg
Photo: Vladimir Putin, Russian dictator (Getty Images)
European leaders plan to wait for a possible meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Türkiye before pushing Washington to tighten sanctions against Russia, Bloomberg reports.
Sources familiar with the matter told the Western media outlet about such a connection between new sanctions restrictions against the aggressor country.
Bloomberg's interlocutors, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that after discussions between US and European officials on May 12, it became clear that Washington wants to allow room for talks between Russia and Ukraine, which are tentatively scheduled for May 15, before increasing pressure on Putin.
If the Russian dictator refuses to meet with Zelenskyy, or if the Kremlin does not agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire during the negotiations in Istanbul, European leaders will urge US President Donald Trump to carry out his threat to impose sanctions against Russia.
The US State Department did not comment on this information to Western media.
US sanctions – on hold
According to Bloomberg, the Trump administration has already prepared options for increasing economic pressure on Russia and is awaiting the "green light" from the President.
Last week, in a post on social media, Trump stated that the US and its partners will impose additional sanctions if the potential truce between Ukraine and Russia is not upheld.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg writes that "the Trump administration's next steps on its approach to Russia have been unclear over the last 48 hours."
Trump's 'maneuvers' on sanctions
Last Saturday, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany believed they had secured Trump's agreement on sanctions pressure against Moscow, based on his statements about such restrictions and his support for a plan for a 30-day ceasefire starting May 12. This involved coordinated US and European sanctions against Russia if Moscow continued attacking Ukraine.
However, after Putin actually rejected the 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, Trump did not announce such a sanctions move. Instead, the American leader called on Zelenskyy to meet with the Head of the Kremlin in Türkiye this week. The Ukrainian President agreed.
According to Bloomberg, European leaders did not expect such a stance from the Head of the White House, which the President of Ukraine, nevertheless, accepted.
European officials told Western journalists that during discussions between US and European representatives on May 12, the American side did not understand whether it was still ready to impose sanctions on Russia if the attacks continue this week, or what it would do if Putin refuses to meet with Zelenskyy and continues attacking Ukraine.
In early May, US Senator Lindsey Graham stated that he had bipartisan support for a bill that introduces "bone-crushing" new sanctions against Russia, including a 500% tariff on imports from countries that purchase Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas, or uranium.
Furthermore, on May 12, Germany and France emphasized that the EU is preparing new large-scale sanctions against Russia targeting its oil and financial systems, and that now everything depends on Putin and the negotiations in Istanbul with Ukraine.
