WSJ Finds Out Whether the EU Will Agree to Trump's Demands for Sanctions Over Russia

The European Union is facing demands from US President Donald Trump to impose significant tariffs on some goods from China and India to increase pressure on RUSSIA, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) writes, citing sources.

The same data was previously cited by the Financial Times (FT) sources. According to them, Trump is demanding that Europe introduce duties of up to 100%. At the beginning of the monthREUTERS and Bild reported that Washington also insists that the EU refuse to buy Russian energy resources. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed this.

A European source told the WSJ that the EU does not use tariffs as a tool to pressure other countries. In addition, the sources say the bloc is unlikely to take measures that would limit oil or gas purchases due to political sensitivities within the union.

The FT reported that the EU was considering sanctions against China over its purchase of Russian energy, but that the proposals were "at a very early stage" and were unlikely to be adopted unless the US took similar action.

WSJ reminds that Brussels is developing the 19th package of sanctions against Russia; the restrictions may affect foreign companies, in particular Chinese ones.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that in developing these measures, the EU is “considering the possibility of a more rapid transition away from Russian fossil fuels,” as well as issues of “the shadow fleet and cooperation with third countries.”

The demand for duties was made during a meeting of American and European officials on sanctions, which Trump also joined, WSJ reports. The reaction of EU representatives to the demand is unclear.

After the meeting, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US was "ready to take tough action against Russia" if its European partners joined them.

The 19th EU sanctions package, according to Euractiv, may include restrictions against third-country companies linked to the Financial Messaging System (SPFS), the Russian equivalent of SWIFT. AFP reported that sanctions may affect the Russian oil company LUKOIL and its subsidiary Litasco.

The president's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, noted that an "unprecedented" number of sanctions had been applied against Russia, but that this had proven useless and would not force it to abandon its goals in Ukraine .

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