Donald Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that European countries must put more pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
“Now is the time … for the United States and our European allies to take additional action,” Pence told Euractiv in Brussels.
Noting the passing this week of Trump’s “self-imposed deadline” for the Russian president to end the war, Pence said: “Putin doesn’t want peace; he wants Ukraine. Putin only understands strength.”
His comments come after a major summit between European leaders in Paris on Thursday, where 26 countries committed to take part in a deterrence force in Ukraine after the war ends. The US is yet to clarify its commitment. According to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Donald Trump called for tighter coordination on sanctions to choke Russia’s oil and gas revenues in a telephone call with EU leaders after the summit.
Pence is championing a push by US Senator Lindsey Graham to slap massive tariffs on countries that continue to pay Russia vast sums for gas and oil. The US has put 50% tariffs on India, for instance, for buying Russian oil.
Asked if EU countries, Hungary and Slovakia, who also buy Russian oil and gas, should face sanctions, Pence did not directly answer.
“I’d encourage you to look at Senator Graham’s legislation. I think it’s important that we target the countries that are fueling the Russian war machine with strong secondary sanctions,” Pence said. “Vladimir Putin needs to see that the United States and our European allies are committed to peace but we’re also committed to consequences if he continues to wage this brutal assault on civilian populations in Ukraine.”
Asked if Trump should make a clearer commitment to help secure a post-war Ukraine, Pence said: “I think the administration has made it clear that as Europe leads on security guarantees that the United States will be open to providing a backstop to those security guarantees, and I’m encouraged by that.”
“I’m encouraged by President Trump’s ongoing engagement in the process,” said Pence.
“The old book says blessed are the peacemakers. I give the president great credit for engaging Vladimir Putin, engaging our European allies. And I’m also heartened by the efforts in Paris of this week, of our allies coming together, the Coalition of the Willing that’s forging now a framework for a long-term security,” he said.
Pence is in Brussels to attend a rally on Saturday in support of an organisation called the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which has close ties to the Republican party.
European Council President António Costa said on Friday that a “European team” is travelling to Washington to work on joint sanctions measures on Russia. The European Commission is expected to unveil a 19th package of Russia sanctions soon.
(vc)
