NATO members have been trying to persuade the US to take a tougher line with Russia, amid ongoing trade turmoil between the allies.
European members of NATO are trying to keep up support for Ukraine as the new US administration changes course
Image: ZUMA Press Wire/IMAGO
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Foreign ministers from the NATO member states met for a second day in Brussels on Friday amid increasing tensions between the US and the rest of the alliance, as well as a faltering push for peace in Ukraine.
While NATO has tried to show a united front as a military alliance, the US under President Donald Trump has kicked off a trade war with Europe and Canada by imposing numerous tariffs.
Nevertheless, on Friday European NATO members publicly admonished Russia for undermining the Ukraine peace deal put forward by Trump, in a clear attempt to persuade Washington to take a harder line on Moscow.
Rubio insists US remains committed to NATO
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Russian President Vladimir Putin had not been sincere in ceasefire talks with US representatives, calling his talk of negotiations “nothing by empty promises.”
She accused the Russian leader of “playing for time by raising ever new demands.”
The UK’s David Lammy took a similar line, saying Putin “continues to obfuscate, continues to drag his feet.”
“He could accept a ceasefire now, he continues to bombard Ukraine, its civilian population, its energy supplies. We see you, Vladimir Putin, we know what you are doing,” Lammy said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot made an attempt to sweet talk the US, represented in Brussels by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying Russia “owes an answer to the United States, that have worked very hard to come up with a mediation effort and a ceasefire proposal.”
