Trump warns Russia of ‘very severe’ consequences if it doesn’t stop Ukraine war

Washington – U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of “very severe consequences” if Russia does not halt its ongoing war in Ukraine following a critical summit scheduled for Friday in Alaska. The statement came during a virtual meeting with European leaders, where Trump emphasized his administration’s push for a ceasefire, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron noted that Trump was unequivocal about prioritizing an end to hostilities during the upcoming U.S.-Russia talks.

In the same discussion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Putin’s tactics as posturing, asserting that Russia’s leader is attempting to project strength on the Ukrainian front while downplaying the impact of Western sanctions. Zelensky argued that these sanctions are significantly undermining Russia’s war economy, despite Putin’s claims to the contrary. He also rejected Russian demands for Ukraine to cede territory, emphasizing that such concessions would violate Ukraine’s constitution and could embolden future aggression.

European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who hosted the virtual talks, underscored the need to protect Ukrainian and European security interests at the Alaska summit. Merz described the discussions with Trump as productive, while German spokesperson Steffen Meyer highlighted efforts to ensure Europe’s perspective is considered. Macron added that Trump clarified territorial negotiations would involve only Zelensky, with plans for a potential trilateral meeting involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky, possibly in a neutral European nation.

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Zelensky, who traveled to Berlin for the talks, expressed skepticism about Russia’s willingness to negotiate sincerely, citing ongoing military actions and a lack of signals indicating Moscow’s readiness to end the conflict. He urged stronger international pressure to compel Russia toward a genuine peace process. Meanwhile, Trump described the summit as a preliminary “feel-out meeting” to gauge Putin’s intentions, though he has faced criticism from European allies for suggesting Ukraine may need to cede Russian-occupied territories. European leaders stressed the importance of including Ukraine in any peace talks to avoid outcomes favoring Moscow.