Trump told reporters on Sunday that “certain European leaders are coming over to our country on Monday or Tuesday individually,” without naming them.
He added he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin “soon” and that his administration was prepared to move into a “second phase” of sanctions against Moscow.
His remarks followed Russia’s largest aerial attack on Ukraine, which killed at least four people and struck a main government building in Kyiv, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, writing on X, urged that condolences be matched by “strong actions,” calling for sanctions on Russia and affiliated individuals, “tough tariffs and other restrictions on trade with Russia,” and insisting Moscow’s “losses must be felt.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that Washington is open to working with Europe on additional measures, including sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, to increase pressure on Moscow.
“We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow us,” he said, adding the outcome depends on whether Ukraine’s military or Russia’s economy holds out longer.
If the United States and the European Union escalate sanctions and add secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, “the Russian economy will be in total collapse,” he said.
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Source: Euronews, Reuters