Czech President Petr Pavel said that last week at a closed NATO dinner, European leaders urged US President Donald Trump to increase pressure on russia, but he remained hesitant.
This was reported by Euroactiv.
"We spoke to him very consistently and collectively, convincing him that the time has come to significantly increase economic pressure on russia," Pavel said, describing the conversation over the dinner, which was attended by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and NATO Chief Mark Rutte.
The Czech President explained: "Not with the aim of causing russia's economic collapse - that is not in our interests - but so that it understands that there is simply no alternative to negotiations. So far, he remains restrained, but he realizes that this is a very effective tool."
When Trump pointed to his previous success with China during the dinner, saying that high tariffs had forced Beijing to change its position, Pavel used this argument to defend his position.
"I said: See, this is exactly the decisive approach that we need now with russia. If China felt it within a month, then russia and its economy can feel it within a week or two," he said.
Trump also asked why Europe could not massively increase defense spending. According to the Czech President, he was surprised why Europe could not invest 5% of GDP in defense next year. It is noted that the allies were united in their response, explaining to him that European industry is not even capable of producing that much military material.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, following the participation of US President Donald Trump in the NATO summit in The Hague, the White House published a video using the phrase "Daddy's Home" and the song of the same name in the title. It should be noted that at the summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called Trump "Daddy" in a conversation about resolving the Israel-Iran conflict.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Zelenskyy said that his meeting with US President Donald Trump in The Hague on the sidelines of the NATO summit was meaningful, they talked about how to achieve a ceasefire and real peace.
Also in The Hague, Trump spoke about putin's territorial ambitions outside Ukraine. At the same time, the US President called his promise to end the war in Ukraine and reach a peace agreement in 24 hours "sarcastic."
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