Trump Issues Ultimatum to Putin — US President Donald Trump has given a clear and strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that if Russia refuses to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, it could face “very serious consequences”. He made this statement before the upcoming Alaska summit, where the two leaders are scheduled to hold face-to-face talks.
Trump issued this warning after a virtual meeting with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday. In this meeting, Zelensky urged the US that the interests of Kiev should not be ignored in any peace agreement.
Trump had previously threatened tough economic sanctions against Moscow, but did not implement them several times. This time he did not elaborate on what exactly “very serious consequences” would mean, but his words have caused a stir in international circles.
Proposal for a three-way meeting
Trump described the meeting as “very good” and “10 out of 10” and said that if Friday’s meeting with Putin was successful, he would immediately propose a three-way meeting, which would also include Zelensky.
He made it clear that if he did not get the necessary answers in the first meeting, then there would be no possibility of a second meeting. Speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, he said,
“If I feel it is not appropriate to proceed, we will not hold a second meeting.”
Joint warning from European leaders
After the virtual meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement. It clearly stated that if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire on Friday, it will be subjected to more stringent sanctions. Along with this, Ukraine will also be given strong and reliable security guarantees.
The statement stressed that
“The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without involving Ukraine.”
The European leaders talked about continuing active diplomacy, continued support to Ukraine and a policy of pressuring Russia. They believe that any diplomatic solution must protect the security interests of both Europe and Ukraine.
Zelensky’s allegation: Putin is ‘bluffing’
In a joint press conference with German Chancellor Merz, Zelensky accused Putin of ‘bluffing’ in the name of peace talks. According to him, Putin is putting pressure on various fronts of Ukraine before the Alaska meeting to gain an edge in the talks.
He said,
“Russia wants to show that it can occupy the whole of Ukraine.”
Zelensky hoped that the focus of the Trump-Putin meeting would be on an immediate ceasefire. He made it clear that if Russia does not agree to the ceasefire, the existing sanctions should be even more stringent.
Merz’s clear message: Borders cannot be changed by force
Describing the virtual meeting as “extremely constructive”, Merz said that Ukraine is ready for talks, but it is not possible under any circumstances to give legal recognition to Russia’s occupation.
According to him,
“The principle that borders cannot be changed by force must continue.”
Merz stressed that any talks must include strong security guarantees for Kiev and long-term Western support for the Ukrainian military to defend its sovereignty.
Concerns over land swap proposal
One of the concerns in Kiev and across Europe about the Trump-Putin summit is that Trump had previously suggested that Ukraine and Russia might have to swap some land in order to secure a ceasefire. This idea is a very sensitive issue for Ukraine and its allies.
J.D. Vance’s hope for peace
Speaking from Britain, US Vice President J.D. Vance tried to ease European countries’ concerns. He said,
“I just spoke to him (Trump), and he said clearly that the mission of our government will be to bring peace to Europe once again.”
Cautious optimism in Europe
Reporting from Berlin, aljazeera.com correspondent Steph Wesson said that there is “some degree of optimism” in Europe about Trump’s meeting. However, he also added that European leaders are wary that Putin, who is considered a very smart and sharp negotiator, could turn the tide in a one-on-one meeting with Trump.
Russia taunts European diplomacy
On Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry described the last-minute diplomatic efforts of European countries with Trump as “almost insignificant”. This statement makes it clear that Moscow is not taking Western pressure very seriously.
News from the battlefield
The situation on the ground is continuously deteriorating. On Wednesday, Russia claimed that it has captured the villages of Suvorovo and Nikanorovka in the Donetsk region. After this, the Ukrainian administration issued evacuation orders in about a dozen settlements.
According to the US-based “Institute for the Study of War”, on Tuesday Russia achieved the biggest 24-hour lead in the last one year. This shows that Russia’s grip on the front is getting stronger and Ukraine is facing big challenges on the defense front.
Conclusion: The road to peace is still long
Trump’s warning, European leaders’ strategy and Zelensky’s hopes – amid all this, the world’s eyes are fixed on the Trump-Putin meeting to be held in Alaska. Will this meeting pave the way for a ceasefire or will it further increase the tension? The answer to this will be revealed in the coming days. At present, it is certain that the Ukraine conflict is standing at a decisive turning point for the stability and security of not only Eastern Europe, but the entire world.
FAQs:
Q. What warning did Trump give to Putin?
A. Trump warned of “very severe consequences” if Putin refuses to end the Ukraine war.
Q. What was Zelenskyy’s response to Putin’s peace talk claims?
A. Zelenskyy accused Putin of bluffing and applying pressure before the Alaska summit.
Q. What did European leaders say about the peace process?
A. They insisted that Ukraine must be part of any peace decision and called for tougher sanctions if Russia refuses a ceasefire.
