Oleg Davygora10:59, 30.06.25

He claims that Trump asked why Europe could not significantly increase defense spending.

At a closed NATO dinner last week, European leaders pressured U.S. President Donald Trump to take a tougher stance on Russia, but he remained hesitant, Czech President Petr Pavel told CNN Prima NEWS .

“We spoke to him very consistently and together, convincing him that it was time to significantly increase economic pressure on Russia,” he said, describing a dinner conversation that included Dutch King Willem-Alexander and NATO chief Mark Rutte.

According to him, the goal was not to cause Russia’s economic collapse, as that is not in their interests.

“To make her realize that there is simply no alternative to negotiations. He has remained restrained so far, but he realizes that this is a very effective tool,” Pavlo added.

It is noted that when Trump pointed to his previous success with China during the dinner, saying that high tariffs had forced Beijing to change its position, the Czech president used this argument to insist on his own:

“I said: Look, this is exactly the kind of decisive approach we need now towards Russia. If China felt it within a month, then Russia, with its economy, could feel it within a week or two.”

He claims that Trump wondered why Europe could not significantly increase defense spending.

“He was surprised why Europe couldn’t invest 5% of GDP in defense next year,” Pavel said.

According to him, the Allies were united in their response, explaining to him that European industry was not capable of producing such volumes of military materials.

(c)UNIAN 2025