U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatening "very severe consequences" if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine following their summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday.
The remarks, made after a virtual meeting with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reflect heightened diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing conflict, now in its fourth year.
Trump emphasized that the Alaska meeting aims to "set the table" for a potential follow-up discussion that could include Zelenskyy, signaling a push for broader negotiations.
European leaders, in a call hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, underscored that Ukraine must be central to any peace talks.
French President Emmanuel Macron noted that Trump was clear that "territories belonging to Ukraine cannot be negotiated" without Kyiv’s consent.
Merz echoed this, stating that borders must not be altered by force and that increased pressure on Russia would be necessary if the Alaska talks falter.
European leaders expressed cautious optimism about Trump’s commitment to a ceasefire but remain wary of potential concessions that could favor Moscow, especially given Russia’s recent territorial advances in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who joined the virtual meeting from Berlin, firmly rejected any notion of ceding territory, particularly in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces have intensified their efforts.
"I told the U.S. president and all our European colleagues that Putin is bluffing (about his stated wish to end the war)," Zelenskyy said, warning that Russia’s aggressive moves are an attempt to pressure Kyiv before the summit.
Despite a Gallup poll indicating 69% of Ukrainians favor a swift negotiated end to the war, Zelenskyy and European leaders insist that any deal must include robust security guarantees for Ukraine and avoid rewarding Russia’s aggression.
Russia, unmoved by the warnings, has maintained its demands, including Ukraine’s withdrawal from four regions it claims and a renunciation of NATO ambitions — conditions Kyiv deems unacceptable.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed European consultations as "politically and practically insignificant."
As Trump prepares to meet Putin, the summit’s outcome remains uncertain, with fears persisting that a deal excluding Ukraine could embolden further Russian expansion.
European leaders, while supportive of Trump’s initiative, continue to stress that no agreement should be made without Ukraine’s direct involvement.