President Donald Trump warned on Aug. 13 that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will face “very severe consequences” if he refuses to end the war in Ukraine following their upcoming summit in Alaska.
When pressed by reporters on what those consequences would entail, Trump declined to provide specifics. “I don’t have to say. There will be very severe consequences,” he said.
Push for Cease-Fire and Follow-Up Meeting
Trump confirmed he hopes the Aug. 15 Alaska meeting will produce an agreement for an immediate cease-fire. If progress is made, he intends to hold a second summit quickly — this time including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“If the first one goes OK, we’ll have a quick second one. I would like to do it almost immediately,” Trump said while visiting the Kennedy Center.
Pre-Summit Coordination With Allies
Earlier that day, Trump and Vice President JD Vance joined a virtual call with Zelenskyy, hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, along with other EU and NATO leaders. Trump called the meeting “very, very friendly” and rated it a “10.”
Zelenskyy said Trump has made the cease-fire a priority and promised to brief him immediately after meeting with Putin. He also told the group that Putin’s claim sanctions were ineffective was a bluff, insisting they are damaging Russia’s economy.
European Support for Trump’s Diplomatic Effort
Merz publicly wished Trump success in his negotiations with Putin and confirmed European leaders plan to speak with the U.S. president again following the summit.
When asked if he could convince Putin to stop targeting Ukrainian civilians, Trump said: “I guess the answer to that is no, because I’ve had this conversation. I want to end the war. I’ll be very proud to end this war along with the five other wars I ended.”
