US seeks to reassure Europe of involvement in Ukraine peace talks after Trump-Putin call Report by Bloomberg

US officials have assured their European counterparts that the European Union will be a crucial player in any potential peace agreement regarding Ukraine, particularly since Russia is seeking relief from sanctions imposed by the bloc. 

These assurances were shared with European leaders in recent discussions, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg, per Caliber.Az.

The US has emphasized to its European allies that the immediate priority is halting the ongoing conflict, with discussions on long-term security arrangements for Ukraine to follow. The message aims to ease concerns among European nations who fear that the US might pursue a peace deal without involving European leaders, potentially compromising Ukraine's sovereignty and Europe's security. These concerns have grown in light of US President Donald Trump's previous talks with both Ukraine and Russia, where Europe was largely excluded from the discussions.

A recent phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin intensified these fears. Although Putin agreed to limit attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, he declined to commit to a broader 30-day ceasefire, a request made by Trump. Instead, Putin demanded that the US and other nations cease supplying weapons and intelligence to Ukraine. Following the conversation, Trump posted on Truth Social, expressing hope that the negotiations would ultimately bring a peaceful resolution, for the sake of humanity.

Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine's allies, including the US, have imposed extensive sanctions on Russia. These sanctions have targeted individuals with close ties to the Russian government and various entities, alongside secondary sanctions aimed at penalizing third parties that do business with sanctioned entities.

US officials have consistently stated that sanctions will remain in place until a peace deal is reached and that they are prepared to escalate pressure on Russia, particularly concerning energy sectors if Moscow does not cooperate.

While the National Security Council and State Department have yet to respond to requests for comment, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the issue during the Group of Seven summit in Charlevoix, Quebec. Rubio acknowledged that the European Union's significant sanctions on Russia must be considered in any peace process, asserting that Europe must be fully involved in any discussions regarding the future of Ukraine.

In a related development, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, after meeting with Trump, emphasized the need to normalize relations with Russia once the fighting ends, while maintaining pressure on Moscow to ensure meaningful progress in ceasefire talks. However, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys voiced strong opposition to restoring relations with Russia at this stage. Budrys argued that any normalization of relations with Russia would be premature and damaging unless Russia fulfills key conditions, including ending the war, returning occupied Ukrainian territory, and compensating Ukraine for the damages caused.

By Tamilla Hasanova