Trump and Putin both blame Europe as Ukraine peace effort languishes

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🗞️ Driving the news: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are both blaming Europe for the stalled progress in Ukraine peace negotiations, three weeks after their summit in Alaska
• Trump criticized European leaders in a recent call for continuing to fund Russia’s war through energy purchases, while Putin accused Europe of spreading “hysteria” over security concerns
• Despite talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies, Trump has not committed to sanctions against Russia or China, leaving the peace process in a diplomatic impasse

🔭 The context: Trump’s call with European leaders comes amid rising transatlantic frustration over energy flows and security coordination
• Since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European countries have taken steps to cut reliance on Russian energy — including a ban on maritime oil imports — yet some energy flows continue
• Meanwhile, Russia is using familiar tactics to sow division among NATO allies, while attempting to cast Ukraine and the West as obstructing peace

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The ongoing conflict continues to destabilize global energy markets and delays reconstruction in Ukraine, a process that could integrate greener infrastructure
• Russia's manipulation of fossil fuel exports highlights the urgency for Europe to accelerate its transition to renewable energy
• Any delay in peace prolongs the environmental toll of war, including emissions from military activity and damage to Ukraine’s ecosystems and infrastructure

⏭️ What's next: The U.S. remains central to any meaningful Ukraine peace settlement, but Trump’s inconsistent strategy has raised doubts about American commitment
• A pledge from 26 countries to form a peacekeeping force offers limited hope, contingent on a ceasefire — which appears distant amid Russia’s obstruction and lack of trust from Ukraine
• European leaders continue working on long-term security guarantees, with France proposing an “American safety net” 
• The likelihood of direct Putin-Zelensky talks remains low, and the absence of a comprehensive plan from Trump may stall progress further

💬 One quote: “Whatever his decision is, we’ll either be happy about it, or unhappy. And if we’re unhappy about it, you’ll see things happen,” – Donald Trump, on Putin’s pending response to peace proposals

📈 One stat: Russia received €1.1 billion from EU fuel sales in one year — a figure Trump cited to argue that Europe continues to fund Moscow’s war effort

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