US President Donald Trump urged European leaders to halt purchases of Russian oil, warning that such trade was helping Moscow fund its war in Ukraine. He also called on European countries to increase economic pressure on China over its support for Russia’s invasion, the White House said.
According to a White House official, President Trump made the remarks during a call with the “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of nations led by French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss new measures in support of Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
“President Macron and European leaders called President Trump into their ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting,” the official said.
Speaking via video conference with European leaders in Paris, Trump said, "Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war," a senior White House official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“President Trump emphasised that Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war, as Russia received 1.1 billion euros in fuel sales from the EU in one year. The president also emphasised that European leaders must place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war efforts.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who also joined the meeting, said Trump is "very dissatisfied" with European purchases of Russian oil, identifying Hungary and Slovakia as buyers.
Zelensky added that the call with Trump and European leaders also covered sanctions on Russia and measures to protect Ukraine’s airspace.
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