European countries, according to French media, have refused to support Donald Trump’s ultimatum to impose sweeping economic sanctions against India and China in a bid to isolate Russia’s economy and end the war in Ukraine. European politicians indicate they will only consider selective sanctions against certain companies, stopping short of wide-ranging economic pressure on entire states.
Officials in Paris emphasize that such severe measures could negatively affect the European economy, particularly due to close ties with China and reliance on low tariffs and resources. This stance causes discontent among Ukrainians, who believe the West is not sufficiently using economic levers to stop Russian aggression.
Meanwhile, European countries are tightening visa controls for Russian tourists and are considering travel restrictions for Russian diplomats, but these steps are not as extensive as the broader sanctions advocated by the United States. At the same time, Russia continues military exercises on the EU’s borders, most notably in the Kaliningrad region, raising security concerns across Europe.
Negotiations between Western allies are stalling due to conflicting economic interests, and there is no unified approach to economic pressure on Russia. The US and China are separately conducting talks on tariffs and technology issues.
Against this backdrop, the Ukrainian public calls for stronger support of the Armed Forces and unity of national efforts, stressing that the responsibility for defense primarily falls on Ukrainians, while Western partners struggle to agree on a common strategy.
