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Saturday, 16 August, 2025

Trump Issues Stark Warning to Putin Over Ukraine Peace Talks

Express Desk
  14 Aug 2025, 00:44

US President Donald Trump warned of “severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin blocks peace in Ukraine, while signaling that a successful Alaska meeting could pave the way for a follow-up summit including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump did not specify what the consequences might be but reiterated that economic sanctions or other measures remain on the table if the meeting in Alaska on Friday fails to yield progress. “Yes, they will [face consequences],” Trump told reporters when asked about potential US action.

The president described the Alaska meeting as primarily “setting the table” for a second summit that could swiftly involve Zelensky. “If the first one goes okay, we’ll have a quick second one,” he said, adding that he could participate if both leaders agreed.

The US stance was reinforced during a virtual call with European leaders and Zelensky ahead of the Alaska meeting. Trump assured participants that the United States seeks a ceasefire and that Ukrainian territories cannot be negotiated without Kyiv’s direct involvement, aligning with European leaders’ red lines.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump “was very clear that territories belonging to Ukraine cannot be negotiated and will only be negotiated by the Ukrainian president.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that borders cannot be changed by force and warned that pressure on Russia must increase if Moscow shows no willingness to compromise.

The US approach comes amid heightened Russian military activity in eastern Ukraine, interpreted as an attempt to pressure Kyiv into accepting land concessions. Trump’s push for negotiations follows weeks of frustration over Putin’s resistance to prior US-led peace efforts.

Trump’s remarks underscore Washington’s dual strategy: maintaining strong pressure on Russia while keeping the door open for diplomacy. European leaders welcomed the US role but stressed that any peace settlement must respect Ukrainian sovereignty and involve Kyiv directly.

Russian officials, however, remain firm. Moscow has insisted that a ceasefire requires Ukraine to withdraw from regions claimed by Russia and renounce NATO membership — conditions Kyiv has rejected as tantamount to surrender.

The Alaska meeting is now seen as a critical test of the US ability to leverage its influence over both sides to advance peace without undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Comments

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Trump Issues Stark Warning to Putin Over Ukraine Peace Talks

Express Desk
  14 Aug 2025, 00:44

US President Donald Trump warned of “severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin blocks peace in Ukraine, while signaling that a successful Alaska meeting could pave the way for a follow-up summit including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump did not specify what the consequences might be but reiterated that economic sanctions or other measures remain on the table if the meeting in Alaska on Friday fails to yield progress. “Yes, they will [face consequences],” Trump told reporters when asked about potential US action.

The president described the Alaska meeting as primarily “setting the table” for a second summit that could swiftly involve Zelensky. “If the first one goes okay, we’ll have a quick second one,” he said, adding that he could participate if both leaders agreed.

The US stance was reinforced during a virtual call with European leaders and Zelensky ahead of the Alaska meeting. Trump assured participants that the United States seeks a ceasefire and that Ukrainian territories cannot be negotiated without Kyiv’s direct involvement, aligning with European leaders’ red lines.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump “was very clear that territories belonging to Ukraine cannot be negotiated and will only be negotiated by the Ukrainian president.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that borders cannot be changed by force and warned that pressure on Russia must increase if Moscow shows no willingness to compromise.

The US approach comes amid heightened Russian military activity in eastern Ukraine, interpreted as an attempt to pressure Kyiv into accepting land concessions. Trump’s push for negotiations follows weeks of frustration over Putin’s resistance to prior US-led peace efforts.

Trump’s remarks underscore Washington’s dual strategy: maintaining strong pressure on Russia while keeping the door open for diplomacy. European leaders welcomed the US role but stressed that any peace settlement must respect Ukrainian sovereignty and involve Kyiv directly.

Russian officials, however, remain firm. Moscow has insisted that a ceasefire requires Ukraine to withdraw from regions claimed by Russia and renounce NATO membership — conditions Kyiv has rejected as tantamount to surrender.

The Alaska meeting is now seen as a critical test of the US ability to leverage its influence over both sides to advance peace without undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Comments

Putin and Trump Open Summit Talks on Ukraine’s Future
At Least 20 Migrants Die as Boat Capsizes Off Italy’s Lampedusa, UN Reports
Iran Signals Openness to Direct US Nuclear Talks Despite Ongoing Tensions
Major Fire Ignites in Edinburgh City Centre
Firefighters Combat Fierce 'Fire Whirls' in Northern Spain