Trump holds talks with Zelenskyy and Putin, EU unveils €150 bln fund to support Ukraine - Monday brief
RBC-Ukraine collage
US President Donald Trump has held conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, EU leaders have politically endorsed the creation of a €150 billion loan fund to fund weapons amid growing threats from Russia.
Read more about what happened on Monday, May 19.
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US prepares new sanctions against Russia as Trump's office slams Biden's soft stance on Putin
The United States of America and Europe will decisively strengthen sanctions against Russia if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to engage in peace negotiations with Ukraine in a spirit of goodwill, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant says in an interview to CBS News.
"What I can tell you is that the sanctions were very ineffective during the Biden administration because they kept them low, because they were afraid of pushing up domestic oil prices," the US Treasury Secretary said.
EU launches €150 billion fund to rearm and support Ukraine - FT
EU capitals have reached a political agreement to create a 150 billion euro loan fund to finance arms, Financial Times reports.
Sources say that the mechanism will allow member states to take loans from Brussels and use them to purchase weapons, mainly through joint orders.
On Monday morning, the countries of the bloc reached a preliminary agreement on the parameters of the fund. Formal approval is expected on Wednesday.
Putin issues new ceasefire statement following talks with Trump
Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke with US President Donald Trump, discussing, among other things, a possible ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, according to Putin.
He said that Russia is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum "regarding a possible future peace agreement, outlining a number of positions: principles of settlement, timelines for a possible peace deal, including a possible ceasefire for a certain period of time."
Zelenskyy reveals details of conversation with Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump held two separate phone conversations in different formats, focusing on a ceasefire and US sanctions against Russia, stated Zelenskyy during a briefing.
"I had two calls today with President Trump in different formats. In the first call, we discussed what is critically important for Ukraine - a ceasefire, unconditional matters that we discussed in Istanbul, and continuously before that," Zelenskyy said.
