The European Union (EU) renewed sanctions against Russia and agreed on a road map to lift some of those imposed on Syria. At an EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday, leaders also called for a unified approach to deal with US President Donald Trump and what analysts refer to as his "divide and rule policy."

The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said as the US undertook a "transactional" foreign policy, Europe needed to "close ranks."

"We are stronger when we are united," she told reporters.

Zsuzsanna Vegh, a program officer at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said that Trump intends to weaken the EU and deal with countries bilaterally.

"European leaders competing for attention from the Trump Administration will have a negative impact on the unity of the EU," she told DW. "And Trump's support for the euroskeptic European far right could further weaken the union."

While no one is clear how exactly Trump's policy will unfold in coming weeks, and fears of a trade war continue to grow, there is some hope that he may not go easy on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Behind closed doors European diplomats seemed relieved that Trump threatened to hit Russia with higher tariffs........

© Deutsche Welle