Trump issues warning of serious repercussions if Putin impedes Ukraine peace settlement
In a virtual conversation between President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and European leaders, the discussion centred around the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump described the dialogue as "very friendly" and expressed his intention to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire.
Trump threatened "severe" or "very severe consequences" against Russia if Putin does not agree to stop the war in Ukraine following their upcoming meeting in Alaska. However, he did not specify what these consequences would entail, leaving open the possibility of sanctions or tariffs without providing further details.
Zelenskiy, on the other hand, expressed skepticism, stating Putin was "bluffing" about pursuing peace and emphasizing the need for increased pressure through American and European sanctions to force a halt to the war.
The meeting in Alaska did not yield a concrete agreement or ceasefire, as Russia continued its military actions during the talks. Both leaders suggested the possibility of future meetings but made no firm commitments. Analysts viewed the outcome as a failure to make progress towards peace, with Putin showing intransigence and using stalling tactics.
Prior to the meeting, Zelenskiy flew into Berlin for virtual meetings with European leaders and then with Trump. During these meetings, Zelenskiy expressed concern that a land swap could leave Russia with almost a fifth of Ukraine, emboldening Putin to expand further west in the future.
Trump, however, supported the idea of security guarantees in a post-war settlement. He also suggested a quick follow-up meeting with Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy could take place after the initial meeting in Alaska. Trump and Zelenskiy had a very good call, according to Trump, and he rated it a 10.
Wary of angering Trump, European leaders have repeatedly stressed that there should be no deal about Ukraine without Ukraine's participation. Trump has threatened "severe consequences" if Russia's Vladimir Putin does not help bring peace in Ukraine, but he did not provide a time frame for the second meeting.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed that the principle of borders not being changed by force must continue to apply. Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexei Fadeev stated that Moscow's stance has not changed since last year, with conditions for a ceasefire and the start of talks including Ukraine withdrawing forces from four regions and formally renouncing its plans to join NATO.
In the midst of this ongoing tension, Russian forces have made a sharp thrust into eastern Ukraine in recent days, potentially increasing pressure on Kyiv to give up land. Zelenskiy, however, maintains his stance against any land concessions, emphasizing the need for a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict.
Politics surrounding war-and-conflicts in Ukraine remained a general news topic as the discussions intensified before and during the meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskiy in Alaska. Trump threatened "severe" consequences against Russia if Putin did not agree to stop the war, while Zelenskiy expressed skepticism and advocated for increased American and European sanctions on Russia.
