President Donald Trump threatened “severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t end the war in Ukraine — but offered no specifics.
A vague threat
Trump said during a Q&A in Washington that “there will be consequences” for Russia if the country doesn’t make peace with Ukraine. When pressed on whether those consequences would include sanctions or tariffs, Trump replied he didn’t have to say. His comments followed a virtual call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders. He described the exchange as “very friendly,” and European officials said Trump assured them he would push Putin for a ceasefire.
Zelensky calls Putin’s bluff
Speaking in Berlin after the call, Zelensky made his stance clear — he doesn’t believe Putin is serious about peace. “I told my colleagues, the U.S. president and our European friends, that Putin definitely does not want peace. He wants the occupation of our country. And we all really understand that. Putin will not be able to deceive anyone. We need further pressure for peace. Not only American, but also European sanctions,” Zelensky said, adding that Trump “has repeatedly said” his goal is peace.
Summit fallout
Trump claimed it wasn’t his decision to exclude Zelensky from his recent meeting with Putin and expressed interest in a future meeting between Zelensky, Putin and himself. “There’s a very good chance that we’re going to have a second meeting, which will be more productive than the first,” Trump said.
Russia’s stance
Despite Trump’s tone, Russia appears unfazed. Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Alexei Fadeev called the European-backed talks “politically and practically insignificant.” Fadeev reiterated that Russia’s demands haven’t changed. Those conditions include Ukraine withdrawing from Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson and ditching any plans to join NATO.
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Author: Isabella Torregiani
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