US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Russia, saying there will be “very severe” consequences if Moscow does not stop the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Responding to a reporter’s question at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, Trump said that Russia will face serious actions if it fails to agree to a ceasefire following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
When asked, “Will Russia face any consequences if Vladimir Putin does not agree to stop the war after your meeting on Friday?” Trump responded:
“Yes, they will,” adding that the measures could range from tariffs to sanctions.
“I don’t have to say. There will be severe consequences,” the president emphasized.
Meeting With Putin Scheduled for August 15
The high-stakes meeting between Trump and Putin is scheduled for Friday, August 15, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska—a site with historic Cold War significance.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he would also push for a second meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“If the first one goes okay, we’ll have a quick second one. I would like to do it almost immediately, and we’ll have a quick second meeting between President Putin, and President Zelensky and myself, if they’d like to have me there,” Trump noted.
However, he made it clear that this follow-up meeting will not happen if he does not “hear the answers” he expects from Putin.
European Leaders Weigh In as Tensions Rise
Trump’s remarks came after a virtual meeting with European leaders, where French President Emmanuel Macron said the US President was prioritizing a ceasefire in Ukraine.
During the same discussion, Zelensky accused Putin of bluffing ahead of the Alaska summit.
“Putin is trying to apply pressure … on all sectors of the Ukrainian front as part of an attempt to show that Russia is capable of occupying all of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
What to Expect from the Alaska Summit
The upcoming meeting will be held at a crucial military base once central to US-Soviet Cold War strategy. A White House official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that preparations are underway at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
