Donald Trump is back in the headlines, and this time he’s putting Europe on the spot. In a fiery video call with European leaders in Paris, the former US President urged nations to hit China economically for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war,” a senior White House official told AFP.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky joined the discussion, revealing that Trump is “very dissatisfied” with countries like Hungary and Slovakia for buying Russian oil.
The talks also touched on sanctions against Russia and safeguarding Ukraine’s airspace.
While Trump’s past efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine have stalled, his focus on China is intensifying.
The US has already sanctioned India for importing Russian oil, but China, a major buyer, has so far avoided penalties, even amid ongoing trade talks.
Trump recently accused Chinese President Xi Jinping of conspiring with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un during Beijing’s World War II military parade—signaling a dramatic escalation in US pressure on Beijing. Europe may now be caught in the crossfire.
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