The European leader speaks to the US president after the Russian Ukraine story failed to achieve a major breakthrough.
Following a meeting with British President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer said European leaders agreed to strengthen joint action with Russia on their disagreement with Ukraine at a meeting on Friday.
As Russia-Ukraine talks ended in Istanbul on Friday, priority people and fellow leaders from France, Germany and Poland, along with Voldimi Zelenkie in Ukraine, have called on the US president from the Albanian summit to discuss the “development” of negotiations.
The talks in Istanbul were the first direct talks for RWO officials for over three years. They lasted less than two hours, but since the start of the war in 2022, the side agreed to the largest prisoner exchange, but failed to make a major breakthrough in a ceasefire.
“We met with President Zelensky and then we called with President Trump to discuss the development of today’s negotiations,” Starmer said from Tirana, Albanian capital.
“And Russia’s position is clearly unacceptable, not the first time.
“So, as a result of that meeting with President Zelensky, and as a result of his call with President Trump, we are now working closely together our responses and we continue to do so.”
French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that if Putin continues to refuse a ceasefire, “we need to have a response and therefore escalate the sanctions.”
The EU sees Russian shadow fleet
Macron said it was too early to provide details about the “redo” sanctions, but European Commission’s Ursula von der Reyen has pledged to “enhance pressure.”
She said Friday that the measure would target the shadow fleet of aged cargo ships that Russia is using to bypass international sanctions and the Node Stream Pipeline Consortium. The Russian financial sector will also be targeted.
Previously, Zelensky said Ukraine was committed to ending the war, but urged European leaders to step up sanctions “on Russia’s energy sector and banks” if Putin continues to limp at the meeting.
“I think Putin made a mistake by sending a low-level delegation,” NATO Secretary General Mark Latte said when he arrived at the Tirana Summit. “The ball is clearly on his part of the field on his court. He has to play the ball. He has to be serious about wanting peace.”
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