Alaska summit: Trump pushes for peace, warns Putin of severe fallout if Ukraine war continues

US President Donald Trump issued a warning Wednesday that if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to halt the Ukraine war, after they meet in Alaska, on Friday, there will be “very severe consequences.” 

After the announcement of this year’s Kennedy Center Honours recipients in Washington, Trump made the remark in response to a reporter’s query on Thursday. However, he made no mention of the potential repercussions. 

The statement was made shortly after Trump had a virtual meeting with European leaders, who said that the US president promised them that when he meets with Putin in Anchorage on Friday, he would prioritise attempting to reach a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine.  

In the virtual conference with Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was joined by a number of Kyiv’s key allies. The latter informed the group that Putin “is bluffing” about Russia’s ability to occupy all of Ukraine and lift sanctions before the scheduled summit

Although “important decisions” could be made in Alaska, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised that “fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected.” 

In an effort to ensure that Ukrainian and European leaders are heard prior to the Trump-Putin summit, Merz called the meeting on Wednesday. He emphasised that negotiations must start with a ceasefire. Merz told reporters that Trump “also wants to make this one of his priorities” in the discussion with Putin. 

French President Emmanuel Macron said during a separate engagement in France that Trump “was very clear” that the US intends to reach a ceasefire agreement at the summit.  

He added that the US president will “seek a future trilateral meeting” with Putin and Zelenskyy, after Friday’s summit. He expressed hope that the summit would take place in Europe, “in a neutral country that is acceptable to all parties.” 

The Europeans made it clear that “Ukraine must sit at the table as soon as there are follow-up meetings,” according to Merz, who called Wednesday’s discussion “constructive and good.”  

Fearing that talks that do not include Kyiv could otherwise favour Moscow, European allies have urged for Ukraine to be included in any peace negotiations. 

The Ukrainian president, who accompanied Merz to Berlin for the meeting, has frequently questioned whether Putin would engage in sincere negotiations. Putin “definitely does not want peace,” he said on Wednesday, adding that he hoped a swift ceasefire would be “the central topic” the in Alaska summit.  

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs downplayed the significance of Europe’s last-minute diplomatic attempts with Trump “practically insignificant.”  

When asked by reporters if Russia’s stance on territorial demands have changed or not, Alexei Fadeev, deputy spokesperson of the nation’s foreign ministry said, “Russia’s position remains unchanged, and it was voiced in this very hall just over a year ago, on June 14, 2024.”  

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