**Trump Claims EU Leaders Asked Him to Call Putin, Citing Kremlin’s Refusal to Respond**
US President Donald Trump has made some surprising claims about the European Union’s efforts to communicate with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, EU leaders have repeatedly asked him to call Putin, suggesting that the Kremlin leader is deliberately ignoring their attempts at dialogue.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump stated that European Union leaders had requested him to contact Putin on multiple occasions because “he doesn’t return their phone call.” This claim comes as Trump’s own 100-day deadline to broker a settlement between Russia and Ukraine has expired without any significant progress.
**Trump’s Frustration Grows Over Slow Peace Negotiations**
It’s no secret that Trump has been frustrated with the slow pace of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. On April 26, he even suggested that Putin might be “tapping me along” – a claim that implies the Russian president is not genuinely interested in ending the war.
Despite this frustration, it appears that European leaders have indeed made efforts to communicate with Putin. For instance, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Putin by phone on November 15, marking their first conversation in nearly two years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the call, warning that it could open a “Pandora’s box” of further talks with Russia, potentially undermining Kyiv’s position.
**European Leaders Have Engaged in Direct Talks with Putin**
Interestingly, several European leaders have held direct talks with Putin. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico have both visited Moscow and met with Putin in person. In fact, Fico is expected to attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
So, while Trump’s claims about EU leaders asking him to call Putin may be true, it seems that European leaders are not entirely reliant on the US president to communicate with the Russian leader. Instead, they have taken matters into their own hands and engaged in direct talks with Putin.
**Analysis**
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a complex issue with no easy solutions. Trump’s claims about EU leaders asking him to call Putin may be an attempt to shift the blame for the slow pace of peace negotiations onto someone else. However, it’s clear that European leaders are taking a proactive approach to communicating with Putin.
As the war in Ukraine continues, one thing is certain: finding a lasting solution will require sustained efforts from all parties involved. Whether Trump’s claims about EU leaders asking him to call Putin are true or not, it’s essential to acknowledge the importance of direct communication and cooperation between world leaders in addressing global crises like this.
