Donald Trump has toughened his rhetoric toward Russian President Vladimir Putin following months of diplomatic efforts by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, Politico reported on May 1, citing unnamed European government sources.

The coordinated effort, led by senior British and French officials, sought to persuade Trump to ease pressure on President Volodymyr Zelensky and focus more criticism on Putin, arguing that Moscow’s actions were undermining Trump’s credibility as a negotiator.

A former British ambassador, speaking anonymously, said London and Paris continually emphasized to Trump that Putin was “disrespecting him by consistently breaking the ceasefire he claimed to be implementing.”