Trump warns Putin of severe consequences over Alaska summit on Ukraine ceasefire
US President Donald Trump has issued a stern ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of their high-stakes summit in Anchorage, Alaska, warning of "very severe consequences" if Moscow refuses to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The meeting, set for Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, marks a pivotal moment as international pressure mounts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion, now entering its third year. Trump described the summit as a preliminary dialogue to assess Putin’s willingness to negotiate a temporary ceasefire, rather than a definitive resolution.
In remarks from Washington on Wednesday, Trump stated he had engaged in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. These talks, he emphasized, reflect a collective effort to push Moscow towards de-escalation.
The US Treasury has also outlined potential economic measures should talks fail. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at expanded sanctions targeting Russia’s trading partners, underscoring the economic stakes tied to the summit’s outcome.
Russian officials, meanwhile, have downplayed the diplomatic maneuvering by European nations, calling it “politically insignificant.” However, the Kremlin has confirmed that the agenda will extend beyond Ukraine, encompassing broader US-Russia relations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to accompany Putin at the talks.
While this meeting signals a return to direct dialogue between Washington and Moscow, it also highlights the significant challenges of achieving a breakthrough. Since the invasion began in February 2022, Zelensky and Putin have not met face-to-face, leaving open questions about whether this summit could pave the way for substantive negotiations.
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