Europe Today: Trump claims Ukraine

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-23T06:11:19.144Z • Permanent link

US President Donald Trump stated that he expects the ongoing war in Ukraine to end sooner than many people think, sparking a mix of reactions from world leaders. The conflict has been ongoing for nearly two years, with Russia's invasion in February 2022 causing widespread destruction and displacement. Trump's comments were made during a meeting with EU leaders in Brussels, where he also discussed the removal of two Russian businessmen from the EU's blacklist.

The two businessmen, Roman Lapshin and Sergey Bakhmutov, were added to the blacklist in 2020 for their alleged involvement in Russia's military-industrial complex. Their removal was the result of intense negotiations between EU countries, with several member states pushing for a more lenient approach. EU officials had previously stated that the list would remain unchanged, but after weeks of pressure, the two men were finally removed.

Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Karins was one of the key figures in the negotiations, meeting with EU counterparts to discuss the removal of the businessmen. Karins had stated that the removal was a "step forward" for the EU, but also acknowledged that the issue was complex and required careful consideration. The move is seen as a significant development in EU-Russia relations, with many analysts predicting a shift towards more diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

The removal of Lapshin and Bakhmutov from the EU blacklist has significant implications for several research communities and companies that rely on data from the EU. The blacklist, which was established in 2014, lists individuals and entities that are deemed to be involved in activities that undermine EU policies, including sanctions against Russia. Companies that rely on data from the blacklist, such as those involved in the energy and defense sectors, will need to reassess their relationships with the EU and consider the potential risks of doing business with Russia.

Several major research institutions, including the European Union's Institute for Security Studies, have been impacted by the removal of the businessmen from the blacklist. These institutions rely on data from the blacklist to inform their research and analysis, and will need to adjust their approaches to account for the changes. The move also has implications for the financial sector, with several major banks and investment firms having dealings with the two businessmen in the past.

The removal of Lapshin and Bakhmutov from the EU blacklist is part of a larger pattern of EU-Russia relations. In recent years, the EU has sought to reduce tensions with Russia, while also maintaining its commitment to sanctions against Moscow. This approach has been criticized by some as being too soft, while others argue that it is necessary to avoid exacerbating the conflict. The EU's approach is also influenced by competing approaches from other global powers, such as the United States and China.