US President Donald Trump said in a telephone conversation with EU leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni, that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ready to end the conflict in Ukraine because he considers himself the winner, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing sources familiar with the talks. The conversation took place on the evening of May 21, shortly after another failed attempt to agree on a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

According to the WSJ, Trump stressed that Putin sees no need for an immediate end to hostilities, since, in his opinion, Russia holds a strategic advantage on the battlefield. This statement was another confirmation of the difficulties in the negotiation process, which, despite the efforts of international mediators, remains at an impasse. Earlier, on May 19, Trump and Putin held a telephone conversation during which they discussed the prospects for a peaceful settlement.

European leaders, in turn, expressed concern about Putin's position and decided to increase pressure on Russia through new sanctions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the EU would begin work on another package of sanctions if a ceasefire agreement was not reached by the end of May. According to Reuters, on May 21, the EU already introduced the 17th package of sanctions, aimed at the "shadow fleet" of Russian tankers. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the preparation of the 18th package, which could include restrictions on capital movements and a ban on imports of Russian uranium.