EU leaders and their delegations, set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. officials at the World Economic Forum starting January 19, 2026, are discarding Ukraine briefing notes in favor of "carrots and sticks" strategies on tariffs, including retaliation options and de-escalation offers, according to the Financial Times in a report posted on X during the 29-minute window ending at 1:46 p.m. UTC. A senior EU diplomat described the shift, stating that delegations are preparing how Brussels could retaliate against tariffs while offering de-escalation, as quoted in the FT article linked by @ChristopherJM on X between 1:17 p.m. and 1:46 p.m. UTC. The diplomat added skepticism toward Trump on Ukraine, questioning: “How can you sit down across the table with this guy and discuss his security guarantees to Ukraine?” and stating, “You can’t trust him, unless you suspend reality,” per the Financial Times.
