US President Donald Trump has warned his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of “serious consequences” if he obstructs peace efforts in Ukraine, just days before their scheduled meeting in Alaska on Friday.
Speaking after a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, Trump said the talks with Putin are intended to pave the way for a follow-up meeting that could include Zelensky — provided progress is made in the first round.
He did not specify the exact nature of the potential sanctions, only hinting at possible economic measures. However, Trump expressed optimism, saying he knows Putin well from past encounters and hopes to persuade him to end the conflict.
The meeting will focus on ending the war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for more than three and a half years and is considered the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, having claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced many more.
Trump had previously floated a solution based on a land-swap deal between Moscow and Kyiv in exchange for a ceasefire.
