U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Wednesday, promising “very severe consequences” for Russian President Vladimir Putin if he fails to agree to halt the war in Ukraine during their upcoming summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday. Speaking after announcing the Kennedy Center Honors recipients in Washington, Trump did not specify the nature of these consequences, but the statement followed a virtual meeting with European leaders where he emphasized prioritizing a ceasefire.

The summit, the first U.S.-Russia meeting since 2021, comes as the war, now in its fourth year, intensifies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who joined the virtual talks from Berlin alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, dismissed Putin’s claims of Russian strength, asserting that Putin is “bluffing” about occupying all of Ukraine and downplaying the impact of sanctions, which Zelenskyy said are crippling Russia’s war economy.

European leaders, convened by Merz, stressed that any peace talks must protect Ukrainian and European security interests. French President Emmanuel Macron noted Trump’s commitment to a ceasefire and his plan for a future trilateral meeting involving Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy, potentially in a neutral European country. Merz underscored that Ukraine must be included in follow-up negotiations, warning that excluding Kyiv risks favoring Moscow.

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Zelenskyy rejected Putin’s demand for Ukraine to cede the remaining 30% of Donetsk, calling it unconstitutional and a precursor to future Russian aggression. He criticized U.S.-led talks for sidelining Ukraine’s demands, including security guarantees and NATO membership, which Trump’s administration has deprioritized.

European fears are mounting that a Russian victory could embolden Putin to target other nations. Meanwhile, Russian forces are advancing on Pokrovsk in Donbas, a critical supply hub, which analysts say could tip the balance if lost.

The summit’s outcome remains uncertain, with Trump describing it as a “feel-out meeting” to gauge Putin’s intentions. If no progress is made, Merz warned that the U.S. and Europe must escalate pressure on Moscow.

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