U.S. and EU agree to maintain pressure on Russia

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas have agreed to continue exerting "maximum pressure" on Russia to achieve a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine. An EU representative announced this after their first phone call on January 28, reports AFP.

Both diplomats emphasized the importance of strengthening U.S.-EU cooperation on key global issues, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and challenges posed by China.

During the call, Kallas informed her counterpart that the European Commission proposed increasing tariffs on Russian agricultural products and fertilizers. The statement noted that these tariffs could negatively impact Russia’s export revenues and its ability to continue the war against Ukraine.

Trump aims to end the Ukraine war in 100 days

A few days after returning to the White House, Donald Trump reportedly instructed his special representative for Ukraine and Russia, retired General Keith Kellogg, to end the war within 100 days. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported this on January 22. However, journalists noted that reaching an agreement with Putin might be more difficult than Trump claimed during his campaign, when he promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”