US President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Russia, stating that it will face “very severe” consequences if it does not agree to halt the ongoing war in Ukraine. Answering a reporter’s question at the Kennedy Centre on Wednesday, Trump confirmed that actions would be taken against Russia following his scheduled meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
When asked if Russia would face any consequences if Putin did not agree to stop the war after their meeting on Friday, Trump responded with a simple “yes, they will,” clarifying that these consequences would include tariffs and sanctions. He further added, “I don’t have to say. There will be severe consequences.”
"Will Russia face any consequences if Vladimir Putin does not agree to stop the war after your meeting on Friday?"@POTUS: "Yes, they will." pic.twitter.com/lLfbR0iHxj
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 13, 2025
Trump also expressed his intention to propose a second meeting, which would include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, if the first meeting goes well. “If the first one goes okay, we’ll have a quick second one,” Trump said, adding that he would like to do it “almost immediately.” However, he added that this second meeting would not take place if he does not receive the answers he is looking for.
These remarks follow a virtual meeting with European leaders, during which French President Emmanuel Macron noted that Trump was prioritizing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky, who was also part of the meeting, had alleged that Putin was “bluffing” ahead of the summit and was trying to apply pressure on all sectors of the Ukrainian front to show that Russia is “capable of occupying all of Ukraine.”
The meeting between Trump and Putin is scheduled for Friday, August 15, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, a location with historical significance from the Cold War era