Islamabad 14 August: U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of “very severe consequences” if he obstructs efforts to secure a peace deal for Ukraine, ahead of their highly anticipated meeting in Alaska on Friday.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump expressed hope that the talks would “set the table” for a rapid follow-up meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “If the first one goes okay, we’ll have a quick second one,” Trump said, adding that such a summit could take place “almost immediately.”
While Trump did not detail the measures Russia might face if the talks fail, he has previously floated the possibility of economic sanctions. His warning comes after a virtual meeting between Trump, Zelensky, and key European leaders — including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz — aimed at aligning positions before the Alaska summit.
European Allies Set Red Lines
Macron stressed that Trump agreed Ukraine must be part of any discussion about territorial concessions, while Zelensky said Trump supported security guarantees in a post-war settlement. Merz emphasized that borders “cannot be changed by force” and urged increased pressure on Moscow if no progress is made in Alaska.
Trump has previously suggested that both sides may need to agree to a land swap to end the three-and-a-half-year war, the largest European conflict since World War II. However, Kyiv and its allies fear such concessions could reward Russia for its aggression and encourage further expansion westward.
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Russian Offensive Intensifies
In the days leading up to the summit, Russian forces have made sharp advances into eastern Ukraine — a move Zelensky described as an attempt to pressure Kyiv into concessions. “Putin is bluffing,” Zelensky said. “Russia is trying to show that it can occupy all of Ukraine.”
The Kremlin has reiterated its demands that Ukraine withdraw from four occupied regions and abandon its NATO membership ambitions — terms Kyiv has rejected as surrender.
High Stakes for Diplomacy
European leaders have cautiously welcomed Trump’s diplomatic push, wary of any agreement reached without Ukraine’s direct involvement. A Gallup poll released last week found that 69% of Ukrainians support a negotiated settlement, but not at the cost of major territorial losses.
The Alaska meeting marks a pivotal moment in the stalled peace process, with the outcome likely to shape the trajectory of the war and the future security landscape of Europe.
