US President Donald Trump has warned that if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire, Russia will face serious consequences.
Trump and Putin are holding a summit meeting in Alaska on Friday to discuss a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.
During a virtual meeting with European leaders on Wednesday, Trump said he was confident he could persuade Putin to agree to peace, but warned that if unsuccessful, Russia would face severe consequences.
“If Putin is not ready for a ceasefire, Russia will face extremely serious consequences,” Trump was quoted as saying by The New York Times.
When journalists asked whether “serious consequences” meant new sanctions or military action, Trump avoided giving a direct answer, according to CNN.
“I don’t need to say more, but without a ceasefire, Russia will face grave consequences,” he said.
Trump also mentioned that if talks with Putin succeed, he will immediately hold trilateral talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
There is also a possibility of trilateral talks happening immediately. “The second round of talks could be more effective and result-oriented than the first,” Trump said.
Trump clarified that the decision not to include Zelenskyy in the initial meeting was not his own.
He mentioned that immediately after the meeting with Putin, he would inform European leaders about the discussed topics via phone.
Trump described his virtual meeting with European leaders as highly constructive.
“We had a very good discussion. It was an extremely friendly conversation. I would rate it 10 out of 10,” Trump told reporters.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who helped organize the virtual meeting, also described the talks as very cordial and constructive.
“I had an exceptionally constructive and good discussion with the President. It has raised hopes for peace in Ukraine,” Merz said.
The virtual meeting included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and other European leaders close to Trump.
