LONDON — President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Russia regarding its ongoing military actions in Ukraine, stating that there will be ‘severe consequences’ if President Vladimir Putin does not agree to halt the conflict.
Speaking at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Wednesday, Trump addressed questions following a virtual conference he had earlier with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.
During this conference, Trump described the conversations as ‘very friendly’ and indicated that he would urge Putin to seek a ceasefire as part of their upcoming meeting on Friday.
Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about the possibility of peace, stating that Putin is merely ‘bluffing’ in his pursuit of negotiations and is primarily interested in occupying Ukraine.
‘I told my colleagues that Putin does not want peace. He wants the occupation of our country,’ said Zelenskyy during a press conference in Berlin.
He emphasized the need for continued pressure on Russia, suggesting that both American and European sanctions are necessary to compel a change in Kremlin actions. Zelenskyy hopes that the upcoming meeting in Alaska will address an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing that discussions with Trump have indicated a shared goal of ending hostilities.
The location for Trump and Putin’s meeting has been confirmed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Trump clarified on Wednesday that it was not his decision to exclude Zelenskyy from this pivotal summit, but he expressed a desire for subsequent dialogues among the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia.
‘There’s a very good chance that we’re going to have a second meeting, which will be more productive than the first,’ Trump stated, as he prepared for his initial discussions with Putin.
When pressed on whether he believes he can persuade Putin to stop targeting civilians in Ukraine, Trump voiced doubt but reiterated his frustrations regarding Russian actions in recent weeks.
He also conveyed that a second meeting could be contingent upon the responses he receives from Putin, indicating that if satisfactory answers are not provided, he might forgo future discussions.
Zelenskyy is advocating for a three-way meeting that includes Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, asserting that resolving the conflict requires Ukrainian participation.
European leaders are keen to support Ukraine in any future negotiations and are counting on Trump to facilitate significant involvement from both European nations and Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed Trump’s commitment to achieving a ceasefire in the Alaska meeting, noting that any negotiations concerning territorial matters must be directed by the Ukrainian president.
Macron stressed that the stance taken by both leaders heralds future diplomatic engagements.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also highlighted the ‘real progress’ made during the virtual meeting, expressing the coalition’s readiness to support the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin.
He also noted that plans are in place to offer security guarantees to Ukraine if a ceasefire is achieved.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian officials dismissed European calls for consultations, with deputy spokesperson Alexei Fadeev describing such requests as ‘politically and practically insignificant.’
Fadeev reiterated that Russia’s position on resolving the conflict has not changed, reiterating conditions set forth by Putin last year, which include the full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from disputed regions and Ukraine’s abandonment of NATO aspirations.
He indicated that the forthcoming meeting would provide an opportunity to address various issues impacting bilateral relations, ranging from the war in Ukraine to normalization efforts.
As tensions escalate, drone strikes and other military actions have intensified in the region.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 49 drones and two ballistic missiles, with Ukrainian defenses managing to intercept or suppress a significant number.
Conversely, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 63 Ukrainian drones in the same timeframe.
This backdrop sets the stage as President Trump prepares to meet with President Putin, with global leaders watching closely for the outcomes of their discussions.
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