US President Donald Trump has issued a warning of 'very severe consequences' for Russian President Vladimir Putin if a ceasefire in Ukraine is not agreed upon at their upcoming summit. This Friday, the two leaders are scheduled to meet in Alaska to discuss a potential path to ending the war.
The warning from Trump followed a virtual meeting he held with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. According to French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump was 'very clear' during the meeting that the primary goal for the US at the summit is to secure a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy claimed that Putin is "bluffing" before the meeting during the same video conference. The Russian leader, he said, is 'trying to apply pressure... on all sectors of the Ukrainian front' to show that Russia can "occupy all of Ukraine." Additionally, Zelenskyy argued that Putin's contempt for sanctions is a front, claiming that in practice they are "very helpful and are hitting Russia's war economy hard."
Macron, speaking after the video conference, confirmed that Trump's priority is a ceasefire and added that the US president was clear that "territorial issues relating to Ukraine... will only be negotiated by the Ukrainian president." Macron also noted that following his meeting with Putin, Trump would "seek a future trilateral meeting" involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy. Macron expressed hope that such a meeting could be held in "a neutral country that is acceptable to all parties."
Before the Trump-Putin summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted Zelenskyy in Berlin and organized the virtual meetings to make sure the views of Ukrainian and European leaders were heard. Merz called the conversation with Trump "constructive" and stated that "fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected," even though "important decisions" could be made in Alaska.
Both Zelenskyy and the European leaders have been excluded from the bilateral summit between Trump and Putin. German government spokesperson Steffen Meyer said the purpose of Wednesday's meetings was to "make clear the position of the Europeans." A separate call was also expected to take place with leaders from the "coalition of the willing," nations prepared to help police any future peace agreement.
Before his arrival in Berlin, Zelenskyy had expressed doubt about Putin's sincerity. He wrote on his official Telegram channel that there was "currently no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war" and urged his American and European partners to coordinate their efforts to 'force Russia to peace.' Zelenskyy stressed that "pressure must be applied on Russia for an honest peace."
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Trump has described his upcoming summit with Putin as a 'feel-out meeting' to assess whether the Russian leader is serious about ending the war, which is now in its fourth year. However, Trump has previously disappointed European allies by suggesting that Ukraine may have to cede some Russian-held territory and that Russia must agree to land swaps.
The exclusion of Kyiv from the summit has caused concern among European allies, who fear that a deal made without Ukraine's involvement could favour Moscow. On Monday, Trump avoided questions about whether he would push for Zelenskyy to participate in his talks with Putin and was dismissive of the need for the Ukrainian leader's presence in the initial discussions. Trump has suggested that a follow-up meeting involving either Putin and Zelenskyy, or all three leaders, could be arranged after Friday's summit.
A major concern for many European countries is that if Putin achieves a favourable outcome in Ukraine, he might then set his sights on another European nation.
Zelenskyy, on Tuesday, reiterated his firm rejection of a proposal by Putin for Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30 pc of the Donetsk region it controls as part of a ceasefire deal. The Ukrainian president stated that giving up this territory would be unconstitutional and would only serve as a "springboard for a future Russian invasion".
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He also noted that diplomatic discussions led by the US have not addressed key Ukrainian demands, such as security guarantees and the inclusion of Europe in negotiations.
Three weeks into his new administration, Trump's government took Ukraine's potential NATO membership off the table—a key demand of Putin—and signaled that European security is now primarily the responsibility of the EU and Ukraine, as the US shifts its focus elsewhere.
Senior EU officials believe that Trump may be content with securing a ceasefire and is more interested in broader geopolitical interests, including rehabilitating Putin and boosting business with Russia.
On the ground in Ukraine, Russian forces have been closing in on the city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donbas region. Military analysts believe that Ukraine's ability to defend against these advances is critical, as losing Pokrovsk could provide Russia with a significant victory ahead of the summit and disrupt Ukrainian supply lines in the Donetsk region, a key area of the Kremlin's military focus.
Also Read: Trump to meet Putin in Alaska on Aug 15
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