Image Credentials: Image Title: Trump Urges Europe to Halt Russian Oil Purchases, Calls Out China Over Ukraine War Financing Source: (Sora.ChatGpt) Date: September 2025. Attribution: Created using AI-generated imagery (Sora.ChatGpt), this does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle with Agencies
Washington, D.C. — September 4, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday pressed European leaders to end purchases of Russian oil, warning that continued energy trade with Moscow is undermining efforts to stop the war in Ukraine.
Speaking during a virtual meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing,” chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump said Europe must cut off what he described as a “lifeline” for the Kremlin. According to a White House official, Trump cited figures showing that Russia received €1.1 billion in fuel sales from the European Union over the past year.
“The president questioned the credibility of European pledges to support Ukraine while continuing to buy Russian energy,” the official noted.
The meeting included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and leaders from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, and several other nations.
Pressure on China
Trump also called on coalition members to intensify economic pressure on China, accusing Beijing of indirectly financing Moscow’s war efforts. He highlighted tariffs his administration imposed on Indian oil imports from Russia as proof of U.S. resolve and urged European allies to take similarly bold measures.
Security Guarantees for Ukraine
The talks largely centered on security guarantees for Kyiv should a peace settlement with Russia be reached. Zelenskyy, speaking after the call, said the coalition also discussed strengthening sanctions and ensuring better protection of Ukraine’s airspace.
“Until peace comes, Ukrainians must not be at the mercy of constant Russian attacks. Russian missiles and drones must not take lives. Ukraine has proposed a format for protecting our skies for the U.S. to consider,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
A long and very detailed conversation with President Trump @POTUS. We spoke after today’s meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris. European leaders also participated on the call.
First and foremost, we talked about how to push the situation toward real peace. We… pic.twitter.com/J1qoYRho28
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 4, 2025
Stalled Peace Talks
Trump has sought to broker direct negotiations between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, though those efforts remain at an impasse. The White House acknowledged that the U.S. president stressed this is “not his war,” adding that European nations must “step up as well.”
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to long-term support for Ukraine, though divisions remain over how to balance military aid with energy and economic policies.