U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin of “severe consequences” if their upcoming meeting in Alaska fails to secure peace in Ukraine.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump did not specify the measures he would take but hinted they could include economic sanctions. He described Friday’s talks with Putin as a step toward arranging a second meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“If the first one goes okay, we’ll have a quick second one,” Trump said, adding that such a meeting could happen almost immediately if all parties agree. He gave no timeline for when it might take place.
The warning comes after a virtual conference hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that brought together Trump, Zelenskiy, and several European leaders. The discussions were aimed at setting “red lines” ahead of the Alaska summit. French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump agreed Ukraine must be part of any territorial discussions, while Zelenskiy noted Trump’s support for post-war security guarantees.
European leaders stressed that Ukraine’s borders cannot be changed by force, warning that if Russia refuses to move toward peace, Western allies will increase pressure. “President Trump knows this position and shares it very extensively,” Merz said.
The Alaska meeting will focus on ending the three-and-a-half-year conflict, Europe’s largest since World War Two. Trump has previously suggested that both sides may have to swap land to reach a settlement—a proposal that has alarmed Kyiv and its allies.
In recent days, Russian forces have made significant advances in eastern Ukraine, which Zelenskiy described as an attempt to pressure Kyiv into giving up territory. “Putin is bluffing… He is trying to apply pressure before the meeting in Alaska,” Zelenskiy said.
European leaders have cautiously welcomed Trump’s mediation efforts while warning against any deal struck without Ukraine’s consent. The talks follow what Trump described as “great progress” made by his envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
While a Gallup poll shows that 69% of Ukrainians support a negotiated end to the war, most reject peace if it means major territorial concessions. Russia maintains its stance that Ukraine must withdraw from four partially occupied regions and abandon plans to join NATO before talks can begin.
The outcome of the Alaska summit could determine whether the war edges toward resolution or continues to escalate.
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