US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would face “very severe consequences” if he does not agree to halt the war in Ukraine after their upcoming summit later this week in Alaska on Friday.Trump’s remarks came after announcing this year’s Kennedy Center Honours recipients in Washington. However, the US president did not specify what those consequences would be.The warning came just hours after a virtual meeting with European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which Trump pledged to make securing a ceasefire a priority during his talks with Putin on Friday in Anchorage.Trump described the call with European leaders and Zelenskyy as “very friendly” and rated it “a 10 out of 10.” However, he declined to answer questions about whether he had demanded that Putin meet in Zelenskyy’s presence.
Putin is ‘bluffing’ on war and sanctions
During the call, Zelenskyy told leaders that Putin is “bluffing” about both Russia’s military capabilities and the impact of Western sanctions.He warned that Putin, “is trying to apply pressure … on all sectors of the Ukrainian front” in an attempt to show that Russia is “capable of occupying all of Ukraine.”Putin is also bluffing that sanctions “do not matter to him and are ineffective,” he said, further adding that, “In reality, sanctions are very helpful and are hitting Russia’s war economy hard.”
European leaders push for ceasefire
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who organised the meeting to ensure European and Ukrainian voices are heard ahead of the summit, said “important decisions” could be made in Alaska but stressed that European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected. He insisted that a ceasefire should come at the start of any negotiations.French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking separately, confirmed that Trump was “very clear” in expressing the US commitment to pushing for a ceasefire during his meeting with Putin.The Alaska summit, taking place at a US military base historically used to counter Russia, is intended as what Trump called “a feel-out meeting” to gauge Putin’s seriousness about ending the war, now in its fourth year.However, Trump has frustrated some European allies by suggesting that Ukraine may need to give up certain Russian-held territories and accept land swaps, proposals that remain unclear and contentious.Earlier on Monday, Trump avoided repeated questions about whether he would insist on Zelenskyy’s direct participation in discussions with Putin. He later suggested that after Friday’s summit, a separate meeting could take place involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy.The Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska is set for Friday, with expectations high but uncertainty over whether it will lead to any breakthrough toward ending the conflict.