EU: No talks with U.S. on easing sanctions against Russia.

People take photos in front of the Kremlin's Spasskaya tower and St. Basil's cathedral in downtown Moscow. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)

The European Union has not engaged in any discussions with the Trump administration regarding easing sanctions on Russia, despite Moscow pushing for relief as a condition for a potential Black Sea ceasefire, according to EU sanctions chief David O’Sullivan. Speaking to Bloomberg TV, O’Sullivan confirmed that Washington has not approached the EU on the matter.

While former cooperation between the EU and the Biden administration led to coordinated sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, U.S. policy has shifted under President Trump. His administration has floated the idea of sanctions relief as part of diplomatic overtures to Moscow, while simultaneously warning of tougher measures if Russia stalls peace efforts.

In recent negotiations held in Saudi Arabia, Russian officials demanded the reconnection of a major state-owned bank to the SWIFT system as a condition for ceasefire — a move requiring unanimous EU approval. However, the EU has not participated in any talks on this proposal so far.

As Bloomberg reports, the Kremlin is testing how far Trump is willing to pressure Europe into compromising its sanctions stance. But EU officials remain firm: easing restrictions is off the table unless Russia withdraws from occupied Ukrainian territories. The bloc is currently preparing its 17th round of sanctions, emphasizing that any potential relief must be linked to “a lasting and sustainable peace,” according to O’Sullivan.

Tensions may grow between Washington and Brussels if the Trump administration continues to push for a quick resolution to the conflict, potentially at odds with the EU’s longer-term strategy.

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