WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and European officials convened at the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday evening to deliberate various economic pressures on Russia, including new sanctions and tariffs on Russian oil imports, as reported by a source familiar with the meeting to The Associated Press.
According to the source, who requested anonymity to discuss the meeting, U.S. officials stressed to their European counterparts that President Donald Trump is prepared to take significant measures to cease the war but expects complete cooperation from European allies in whatever actions are undertaken.
The meeting, which lasted under two hours, addressed tariff actions, the necessity for collective action in regard to sanctions, and managing Russian sovereign assets still largely immobilized in Europe, among other issues.
Officials from the Treasury Department, including Secretary Scott Bessent, as well as representatives from the White House, State Department, and U.S. Trade Representative, participated in Monday’s discussions. The European team included staff specializing in energy, sanctions, financial services, and trade.
The officials are set to meet again Tuesday.
This meeting follows Trump’s attempt to encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end the 3 1/2-year conflict. Trump held a summit with Putin last month in Alaska.
It also comes after a Trump-imposed deadline, set in August, for the Kremlin to end its invasion has since passed.
Trump mentioned on Sunday that he anticipates speaking with Putin in the upcoming days and acknowledged that resolving the conflict has been more challenging than he initially thought.
“I believe we’re going to get it settled,” Trump told reporters. “I have confidence we’re going to get it done.”
