Donald Trump has issued a grave warning to Vladimir Putin after previously stating he would sting Russia with new sanctions if he failed to make a Ukraine deal
Donald Trump has warned Vladimir Putin he faces severe consequences if he walks away from their Alaska summit without a stop to the war in Ukraine.
Kyiv says the Russian despot is bluffing about his willingness to end the bloodshed. Keir Starmer said there is a viable chance of a ceasefire. Concerns in Kyiv and across Europe have risen ahead of the one-on-one summit in Alaska on Friday between the US president and the Russian leader.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky fears Mr Trump and Mr Putin may try to dictate the terms of peace in the three-year war. After being asked what would be the outcome if Mr Putin refuses to stop the killing, Mr Trump replied: “Very severe consequences.”
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When pushed on what these consequences would be, he said: “I don’t have to say.” He added: “If I do not get the necessary answers during the meeting with Putin, there will be no next meeting.” It was hours after Zelensky told Trump the Russian leader is lying. Zelensky said in a joint briefing in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: “I told the US president and all our European colleagues that Putin is bluffing.
“He is trying to apply pressure before the meeting in Alaska along all parts of the Ukrainian front. Russia is trying to show that it can occupy all of Ukraine.” The comments followed a call involving Mr Trump, European leaders and Mr Zelensky, as Russian forces step up operations in eastern Ukraine.
Despite the impeding Trump-Putin showdown, Russia’s military continued strikes on Ukraine tonight. The Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning on Telegram this evening, alerting people to Russian guided missiles being fired over the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions in the south-east, drones in the Sumy region near the Russian border that could be carrying missiles, as well as reconnaissance drones over Kyiv and Dnipro – which also could be carrying missiles.
Speaking in Downing Street earlier, Mr Starmer said Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be protected. He added the UK is ready to increase pressure on Russia if necessary.
Briefing the Coalition of the Willing after the calls, Mr Starmer said: “This meeting [in Alaska]… is hugely important. As I’ve said to President Trump for the three-and-a-bit years this conflict has been going on, we haven’t got anywhere near a viable way of bringing it to a ceasefire.
“And now we do have that chance, because of the work President [Trump] has put in.” The Prime Minister spoke as Kyiv officials expressed concern the Kremlin may attempt to use battlefield pressure to force Ukraine into concessions.
Mr Zelensky said he hoped the primary focus of the Alaska talks would be an immediate ceasefire, with any discussions on territorial issues to be addressed at a meeting involving all three leaders.
He said: “Regarding our principles and territorial integrity, in the end, this is all decided at the level of leaders. Without Ukraine, it is impossible to decide this.” Mr Zelensky, who also called for stricter sanctions if Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire, said: “Putin definitely does not want peace – he wants to occupy Ukraine.”
Nato’s Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, said after a separate call with Mr Trump, Mr Zelensky and European leaders: “We are united in pushing to end this terrible war. The ball is now in Putin’s court.”
When asked about potential concessions in the Donbas region, Mr Zelensky said: “Any issue which deals with the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be discussed just like that, without looking at our constitution and the will of our people. I have no right to surrender my country’s land.”
Mr Merz, speaking alongside Mr Zelensky after the trilateral call, said: “We made it clear Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting. We want a ceasefire at the very beginning, and then a framework agreement must be drawn up.
“If Ukraine is prepared to talk about territorial negotiations, then we need to make sure that there are no violent changes to the border.” He added robust security guarantees are essential for Kyiv, including continued Western support. Mr Starmer thanked the coalition countries that contributed to military plans “which are now ready in a form which can be used if we do get to that ceasefire”.
No10 said European leaders thanked Mr Trump for getting Putin to the table. Downing Street added: “The Prime Minister was clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering – international borders must not be changed by force, and Ukraine must have robust security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity as part of any deal.
“Europe stands ready to support this and will continue to work alongside President Trump and President Zelensky for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They looked forward to speaking again following the meeting in Alaska.”