Donald Trump has refused to immediately impose hellish sanctions on Russia. Could his attitude affect Brussels’ plans to ramp up sanctions pressure on Moscow, and is there a possibility the US will start easing sanctions against Russia?

Trump has repeatedly stressed that he wants to see an end to the conflict, and has recently backed calls for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

Ukraine will ask the EU next week to consider big new steps to isolate Moscow, including seizing Russian assets and bringing in sanctions for some buyers of Russian oil, as U.S. President Donald Trump has backed off from tightening sanctions.