European leaders are reportedly trying to push President Donald Trump to pursue the same unsuccessful Biden-era playbook on Ukraine before his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. Heads of EU states — including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Frederich Merz — have been pushing for Trump to institute new sanctions on Russia as Putin appears to be slow walking peace talks,accordingto the Financial Times. However, former President Joe Biden's sanctions regime targeting Russia ultimately didlittleto stop Russian aggression, and some observers have argued that the trade restrictions ultimately strengthened Russia's position by making it less reliant on Western trade. "Imposing even tougher sanctions is a misguided tactic that would force Russia to choose between capitulation and continuing to fight, either one of which European hardliners would find acceptable," George Beebe, director of grand strategy at the Quincy Institute, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. "The problem with this approach is that Russia won't capitulate. Toughened sanctions would not come close to forcing Russian concessions."(RELATED: Trump To Speak With Putin On Monday In Bid To End Russia-Ukraine 'Bloodbath') In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin reacts as he meets with the Governor of the Moscow Region in Moscow on April 8, 2025. (Photo by VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Despite the West's attempt to cut off Russia's oil industry with sanctions, the Russian energy sector has managed to stay afloat by selling large volumes of oil to India and China at discounted rates,accordingto a Bloomberg analysis of Argus Media data. Russian oil profits in 2024 were 50% greater than they were in 2023,accordingto Reuters. Trump will makeanothercall Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders after his chat with Putin. While Trump has so far been patient with Putin, the U.S. president's patience seems to be running out as he pushes the Russian leader to come to the table. Trump has also been impatient with Zelenskyy,sayingin a Saturday interview with Fox News that the Ukrainian leader had "pissed away" U.S. aid. Since the war started in 2022, America has given the Eastern European state $66.5 billion in aid,accordingto the State Department. Additionally, Trump secured a landmarkmineralsdeal with Ukraine in April, which would allow the U.S. to take a portion of profits from mining operations in exchange for investment in Ukrainian infrastructure. The Russian Foreign Ministry and the State Department did not immediately respond to the DCNF's request for comment. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contactlicensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
