United States President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war, suggesting that Moscow could face consequences if its next moves fail to align with Washington’s expectations.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said he intended to speak with Putin soon but emphasized that the Kremlin already knew his administration’s position.
“I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and he’ll make a decision one way or the other,” Trump said. “Whatever his decision is, we’ll either be happy about it or unhappy. And if we’re unhappy about it, you’ll see things happen.”
The comments come as Putin reiterated his openness to meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though only in Moscow. The Russian leader added that while he did not rule out talks, Moscow was prepared to pursue its objectives militarily if negotiations failed.
Ukraine pushes for genuine negotiations
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha dismissed Putin’s remarks as another stalling tactic, stressing that several countries had already offered to host a peace summit.
“Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals. Only increased pressure can force Russia to finally get serious about the peace process,” Sybiha wrote on social media.
Kyiv has rejected any settlement that involves ceding territory, while Russia insists on keeping control of regions it annexed since 2022.
European allies step in with security guarantees
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he planned to speak with Trump on Thursday to discuss tougher sanctions against Russia. He also welcomed signals from Washington about post-war security assurances for Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a coalition of European nations was prepared to endorse such guarantees once a peace deal is signed. “We are ready as Europeans to offer security guarantees to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” he said.
Trump has positioned himself as a potential mediator, floating the idea of a one-on-one meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. However, the gulf between Moscow and Kyiv’s demands remains wide, raising doubts about whether talks can deliver a breakthrough.
For now, all eyes remain on Trump’s expected call with Putin and Zelenskyy’s discussions with European allies, which could set the stage for the next phase of diplomacy.
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