US President Donald Trump has warned that economic sanctions against Russia will be imposed if talks with Vladimir Putin in Alaska fail to yield a ceasefire agreement.
During a virtual meeting with European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump expressed his commitment to obtaining a ceasefire for Ukraine. However, he also stated that Russia cannot dictate the terms of negotiations.
Zelensky urged Trump to use economic sanctions against Russia if the talks fail, citing the country’s struggling war economy. “Sanctions are hitting Russia’s war economy hard,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president emphasized the importance of a ceasefire and “truly reliable” security guarantees. He also called for stronger sanctions on Russia if Putin leaves Alaska without agreeing to a ceasefire.
Trump’s comments were seen as a response to Putin’s previous proposal, which would require Ukraine to cede the eastern Donbas region in exchange for a ceasefire. Trump had previously warned that Putin would face severe economic consequences if he did not agree to a ceasefire by August 8.
The US and European leaders agreed on five common principles to be discussed during the Alaska talks, including a focus on a ceasefire and “truly reliable” security guarantees. Ukraine’s territorial issues will not be up for discussion, according to Merz.
The situation remains tense, with small groups of Russian troops piercing parts of Ukraine’s front lines in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukraine is under pressure to hold its ground, while Russia’s economy struggles. The timeline for the talks is crucial, with Putin confident that he has 12-18 months before Ukraine is ready for full settlement negotiations.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/13/world/ukraine-europe-call-trump-alaska-putin-latam-intl