Trump misjudged influence on Putin, German defence minister says


German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

(This story has been corrected to fix the day to Wednesday in paragraph 1)

BERLIN (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump misjudged his influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Germany's defence minister said on Tuesday, after a phone call between the two leaders yielded no progress in Ukraine peace talks, prompting Europe to announce new Russia sanctions.

"I suspect he assessed his negotiating position incorrectly," Boris Pistorius told the Deutschlandfunk radio broadcaster, following Trump's now-abandoned efforts to pressure Putin into accepting an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

The European Union is currently working on its next package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. Pistorius said it remained to be seen whether Washington would join those measures as talks continue via the usual diplomatic channels.

(Reporting by Rachel More; Editing by Jamie Freed)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Bus falls into river while boarding ferry in Bangladesh, leaving 24 dead
Analysis-Maduro case to test US narcoterrorism law with limited trial success
Panel wants prosecution of ousted Nepal PM over violence in Gen Z protests
Indonesia military officer steps down following acid attack on activist
Tehran rejects US claims of ‘ongoing, productive’ negotiations
Russian attacks kill two in Ukraine's Kharkiv, damage infrastructure on the Danube
Democrats, Republicans trade blame as major U.S. airports continue to see hours-long security lines
U.S. stocks finish higher on reports over Middle East
From the Frontline: Shattered life inside a forgotten train carriage
North Korea's Kim Jong Un welcomed Belarus President Lukashenko to Pyongyang, KCNA says

Others Also Read