How did EU countries react to the Trump-Putin phone call?
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine during a phone call on March 18, prompting a cautiously optimistic response from EU nations.
According to the Kremlin, President Putin has ordered the military to halt attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure for 30 days. Additionally, Moscow and Kyiv will conduct a prisoner exchange on March 19th.
French and German leaders welcomed the talks, but stressed the need for continued support for Ukraine. “The next step must be a complete ceasefire for Ukraine as soon as possible. Of course, it is clear that we both agree on this,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a press conference in Berlin with French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to Reuters, Olaf also affirmed that Germany would continue to support Ukraine and "not let Kyiv down."
French President Emmanuel Macron called Russia's agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure "a good start" in the peace process. The French leader affirmed: "We will continue to support the Ukrainian army in its fight against Russia."
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto described the Trump-Putin phone call as "great news" for Europe. "Today, the US President and the Russian President took a big step toward peace, and we hope Brussels will not hinder the achievement of this agreement," he wrote on Facebook. He also expressed hope that both sides would abide by the moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure.
Earlier, some EU officials worried that Trump might reach a deal unfavorable to Ukraine. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas warned that “Russia cannot really be trusted.”
Both Trump and Putin viewed the talks as helpful and constructive in ending the conflict in Ukraine.
During the 2.5-hour phone call, President Putin warned President Trump that Ukraine had "repeatedly undermined and violated previous agreements." He also emphasized Moscow's concerns about the US proposal for a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire, particularly regarding the monitoring of the agreement's implementation.