WASHINGTON/BERLIN: US President Donald Trump has warned that Vladimir Putin will face “severe consequences” if he stands in the way of a peace deal for Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of their meeting in Alaska on Friday, Trump said he hopes the talks will move things forward – but made it clear he is ready to act if they fail.
Trump also said on Wednesday that a meeting between the pair could swiftly be followed by a second that included the leader of Ukraine.
Trump did not specify what the consequences could be, but he has warned of economic sanctions if a meeting between himself and President Putin in Alaska on Friday proved fruitless.
The comments by Trump and the mood music after a virtual meeting of Trump, European leaders and President Volodymyr Zelensky could provide some hope for Kyiv after fears the Alaska meet could sell out Ukraine and carve up its territory.
However, Russia is likely to resist Ukraine and Europe’s demands strongly and previously said its stance had not changed since it was set out by Putin in June 2024.
When asked if Russia would face any consequences if Putin does not agree to stop the war after Friday’s meeting, Trump responded: “Yes, they will.”
Asked if those consequences would be sanctions or tariffs, Trump told reporters: “I don’t have to say, there will be very severe consequences.”
But the president also described the aim of the meeting between the pair in Alaska as “setting the table” for a quick follow-up that would include Zelensky.
“If the first one goes okay, we’ll have a quick second one,” he said.
“I would like to do it almost immediately, and we’ll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky and myself, if they’d like to have me there.”
