Quotes
From the beginning, the president has been clear about his commitment to achieving a full and comprehensive ceasefire,
National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt said
We Europeans will accompany this American initiative with a 17th package of sanctions and I committed yesterday to Lindsey Graham that we would try to coordinate both the substance and the timing of these two packages of sanctions,
Barrot said
This is a strong signal to the Russian leadership, and it gives President Trump the ability to now negotiate with Russia on even a stronger basis,
he said during an appearance on Fox Business Network
We shouldn’t oversell this. It’s not a substitute for an open-ended, longer term U.S. military and intelligence support for Ukraine, ... The single biggest question is whether this agreement leads to something more between the U.S. and Ukraine.”
Haass saidIf anything, the Russian stance has toughened,
Haass saidPresident Trump has now dealt him the royal flush, because now we can take these cards and go and show the Russian leadership that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people between our goals,
Bessent saidMore sanctions would be the next turn of the screw,
one of the people saidMeanwhile, Vladimir Putin's Russia has made no effort, has sent no sign that it is ready for the ceasefire or the peace that President Donald Trump aspires to, and that the Europeans and of course the Ukrainians aspire to,
Barrot said
We had an unfiltered exchange that allowed us to coordinate closely, but also to acknowledge the convergence of our objectives on regional and international crises, since we want to act in concert,
the French minister saidIt is now crystal clear that the only obstacle to peace today in Ukraine is Vladimir Putin."
Barrot took aim at Russia's president during the interview, sayingThe secretary made clear that President Trump is focused on halting the senseless bloodshed in Ukraine and affirmed a US commitment to working closely with France and other European partners to secure a lasting peace,
she added
I want a negotiated end to the war, honourably and just. I think Trump’s the best person to achieve that goal, but these sanctions represent the Senate’s view that we see the primary bad guy being Russia,
Graham saidThe goal is to help the president,
Graham noted