At the same time, efforts are underway to establish robust European-American security guarantees for Ukraine. These should not be NATO guarantees. Kyiv and the EU will also have to accept that Russia continues to occupy parts of eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
Trump first wants to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky and then a triangular talk in which he himself participates. The goal: to open the way to concrete agreements to end the violence. No place or date has yet been confirmed.
A key topic at that table will be security guarantees. European leaders and the U.S. say they are working on “strong” guarantees for Ukraine, with European countries bearing the main burden coordinated from Washington. Details on content and oversight are still missing.
Meanwhile, Washington is temporarily pausing the expansion of its own sanctions against Moscow. Trump wants to reassess in “two to three weeks” after his conversation with Putin whether additional measures are necessary. This pause is meant to allow diplomatic movement without making prior commitments.
Europe is choosing increased pressure instead. The European Commission is preparing a 19th sanctions package, which is to be presented in early September. EU leaders emphasize that economic pressure on Moscow will continue as long as the bloodshed goes on. Which sectors will be specifically targeted will be decided later.
However, the European pace faces political hurdles. Sanctions require unanimity, while countries like Hungary and Slovakia have previously blocked progress. This makes the schedule uncertain.
There is also a clear position regarding the order of steps: first an unconditional ceasefire with strict monitoring, only then talks on further political issues. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas explicitly stated that work is underway on a 19th sanctions package.
Meanwhile, money is still flowing to Russia through gas and oil exports. According to Eurostat, EU countries purchased about €4.48 billion worth of Russian liquefied gas in the first half of 2025. Brussels wants to end imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027 at the latest.
The coming weeks therefore revolve around two links: diplomacy and pressure. Europe wants to decide on new punitive measures in September while simultaneously shaping tangible security arrangements with the U.S. Whether and when a trilateral summit will actually take place, and which points will be discussed, remains unclear for now.