Trump warns Putin: Make peace in Ukraine or face ‘severe consequences’

By Admin

14 Aug, 2025

In a bold statement ahead of a crucial peace discussion, United States President Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of “very severe consequences” if he refuses to agree to end the war in Ukraine. The two leaders are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday, August 15, in what Trump describes as a meeting aimed at “setting the table” for broader peace talks.

Trump did not detail what the “severe consequences” would entail, though he previously suggested economic sanctions if the talks proved unsuccessful. When pressed on whether the measures would involve sanctions or tariffs, Trump responded, “I don't have to say. There will be very severe consequences.”

The Alaska meeting is seen as a stepping stone toward a potential three-way discussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “If the first one goes okay, we'll have a quick second one,” Trump said, adding that he would like to arrange it “almost immediately.”

However, challenges remain. Ukraine has rejected Putin’s demands to withdraw from four contested regions and to abandon NATO membership ambitions. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexei Fadeev reiterated Moscow’s stance, showing no signs of compromise.

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking after a virtual meeting with Trump, Zelensky, and other European leaders, noted that Trump was “very clear” about the U.S. commitment to achieving a ceasefire. Trump has hinted that any long-term agreement could involve land swaps, with the hope that a Zelensky–Putin meeting possibly with him present could follow.

“There’s a very good chance that we’re going to have a second meeting, which will be more productive than the first,” Trump told reporters. “The first is to find out where we are and what we’re doing. It’s going to be a very important meeting.”

As the Alaska summit approaches, global attention is fixed on whether these talks will open the door to peace or usher in the “severe consequences” Trump has promised.