EU vows to keep Russia sanctions intact despite Trump's push

EU leaders publicly assured before the European Council meeting that sanctions against Russia will not be weakened, despite US President Donald Trump's actions to ease pressure and limit aid to Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the inadmissibility of using the "diesel deal" as a reason for easing sanctions, noting Russia escalated rather than honored the energy ceasefire. European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU will not lift any sanctions until Russia ends the war. The US seeks to ease sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet, and Trump's actions face criticism domestically, with 12 senators calling his agreement with Putin a betrayal of the Ukrainian people.