Europeans pressure US to toughen stance on Russia

European foreign affairs ministers are not buying Russia’s Vladimir Putin’s attempts to end its military aggression in Ukraine and are ramping up pressure on the US to respond accordingly.

“Clearly, Vladimir Putin does not seem to have any willingness to enter into a ceasefire and to start peace negotiations,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters at NATO headquarters on Friday.

Barrot, who arrived at the two-day meeting of foreign ministers alongside his British counterpart, said the situation should prompt all those committed to Euro-Atlantic security to increase pressure on Putin to finally come to the negotiating table.

“We see you, Vladimir Putin. We know what you are doing. And that is why we are pledged to continue to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position, militarily, economically, and with the humanitarian context that they need,” UK’s David Lammy said. 

In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has broken the deadlock in ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, while assuring that the Kremlin is committed to peace.

But Moscow rejected a US proposal in March for a 30-day ceasefire after Ukraine expressed agreement — and European NATO allies believe Putin may simply be stalling to gain an advantage on the battlefield.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Russia’s calls for negotiations are currently nothing but “empty words and promises” as attacks on Ukraine persist.

“Ukraine has made it clear that it wants a ceasefire immediately, without preconditions, and that is exactly what is needed now,” the German Green politician added.

A NATO official said on Thursday that there is no indication Russia’s strategic goals have changed, and that it is continuing to escalate pressure in pursuit of wartime gains.

“We continue to doubt that Putin’s team is coming to the table with good intent,” the official said.

As the US pushes to end the three-year-old war in Ukraine, Russia has announced a massive conscription drive of 160,000 new soldiers and continues its attacks on Ukrainian territory.

“If you look at the way that Russia has been behaving so far, we find that whatever type of energy ceasefire was made doesn’t look like it is being adhered to by the Russians,” said the official.

Earlier this week, both sides accused each other of launching new attacks on energy infrastructure, violating the US-brokered moratorium reached after last month’s lengthy phone call between Trump and Putin.

“We cannot wait forever — it is now up to Russia to show whether it wants peace or whether it wants to continue its war of aggression,” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said.

Meanwhile, his Canadian counterpart welcomed cooperation with the US to push for a ceasefire, noting that Russia has tried to sow division and weaken the transatlantic alliance. “But at one point, we need a decision — and there need to be consequences,” Mélanie Joly said.

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“We think that if ultimately they don’t agree to that ceasefire, there should be consequences,” she concluded.