EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called on Russia to demonstrate goodwill by agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Speaking from Madrid ahead of a meeting of European foreign ministers, Kallas emphasized that actions such as returning deported Ukrainian children and releasing prisoners of war would be signs of genuine commitment to peace.
Trump’s Growing Frustration with Putin
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in his efforts to broker a peace deal. His conciliatory approach towards Moscow has raised concerns among European allies, according to Reuters.
On March 30, Trump threatened to impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on all Russian oil exports if President Vladimir Putin obstructs his peace initiatives.
“If Russia and I fail to reach an agreement to end the bloodshed in Ukraine—something I believe is Russia’s mistake—I will impose secondary tariffs on all Russian oil exports,” Trump warned in an interview with NBC.
His statement followed Putin’s proposal for a transitional government in Ukraine, a move that Trump strongly opposed, stating he was “very angry” about any effort to undermine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
NATO Allies Discuss Peacekeeping Deployment
Regarding the possibility of deploying peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, a plan backed by France and the UK, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stressed that the decision ultimately lies with Kyiv.
“It is up to the Ukrainian government to determine when and if they will allow foreign troops on their territory,” Sikorski stated.
