Trump Threatens Russian Counterpart with Economic Sanctions if He Disrupts Peace with Ukraine

SadaNews - US President Donald Trump threatened his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday with "severe consequences" if he hinders efforts to establish peace in Ukraine, indicating the possibility of imposing economic sanctions if their upcoming meeting on Friday in Alaska fails to achieve tangible results.

Trump clarified that the meeting with Putin will be "preparatory" for a second meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, noting that its occurrence will depend on the outcomes of the Alaska meeting.

He expressed confidence in being able to persuade Putin, stating: "Probably, because I know him well and have had many meetings with him."

Trump's statements came after a virtual meeting that included him, Zelensky, and European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The participants agreed on the necessity of reaching an immediate ceasefire, with Macron emphasizing that issues concerning Ukrainian territories are "non-negotiable" except by decision from Kyiv, while Merz showed that Ukraine is willing to discuss land-related issues without a legal recognition of Russian occupation.

Meanwhile, the front lines have seen notable escalation, as Moscow announced its control over two villages in Donetsk, with an advance of more than 110 square kilometers within 24 hours, which is a rate not recorded since May 2024.

Ukrainian authorities ordered the evacuation of families from about ten towns in the eastern part of the country amid what appears to be a Russian attempt to increase pressure on Kyiv to give up parts of its territory.