U.S. President Donald Trump miscalculated his leverage over Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent phone call that failed to produce progress toward ending the war in Ukraine, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday.
“I believe he overestimated his negotiating position,” Pistorius told Deutschlandfunk radio, referring to Trump’s attempt to secure a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. The proposal was quickly dropped after the call yielded no concrete outcome.
The stalled diplomatic effort has prompted the European Union to advance a new round of sanctions against Russia. EU officials are currently finalizing the next package, aimed at increasing pressure on Moscow over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Pistorius noted that it remains uncertain whether the U.S. will join the EU’s latest sanctions push. While Washington has expressed broad support for Ukraine, Trump’s direct outreach to Putin has drawn criticism in Europe, particularly given the lack of tangible results.
The call between Trump and Putin had briefly raised hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough. Instead, it has highlighted the enduring challenges of negotiating with Moscow—and the limits of U.S. influence as the war stretches into its third year.