U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, threatening “devastating” sanctions if Moscow refuses to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine war.
Speaking after a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the White House, Trump revealed that U.S. negotiators are en route to Russia for discussions on a potential ceasefire. The talks come just a day after Ukraine agreed to a 30-day truce. However, the president refrained from disclosing further details about the discussions.
The White House later clarified that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to visit Moscow later this week to advance negotiations.
Trump’s Firm Stand on Russia
“We could do things very bad for Russia. It would be devastating for Russia. But I don’t want to do that because I want to see peace, and we’re getting close to maybe getting something done,” Trump told reporters.
“People are going to Russia right now as we speak. And hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia. And if we do, I think that would be 80 percent of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath finished,” he added, referencing the three-year-long conflict.
Also Read: After Oval Office fallout with Zelenskyy, Trump threatens Russia with sanctions
Trump’s warning follows a recent heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House regarding U.S. policy on the war. The spat led to a temporary suspension of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, though assistance was later reinstated after Kyiv agreed to the ceasefire proposal on Tuesday.
Zelensky on Ukraine’s Ceasefire Proposal
After concluding negotiations with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, Zelensky signaled his support for the ceasefire initiative but emphasized that Washington must convince Russia to adhere to the agreement.
“Ukraine welcomes this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take such a step. The United States of America has to convince Russia to do this,” Zelensky stated.
Also Read: Ukraine agrees to US proposal of 30-day ceasefire, ball now in Russia’s court says America
“So we agree, and if the Russians agree, the ceasefire will work at that very moment,” he added.
However, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Russia’s commitment to peace. “I have emphasized this many times: none of us trust the Russians. Everything depends on whether Russia wants a ceasefire and silence, or it wants to continue killing people,” he remarked.
Next Steps in the Peace Talks
With high-level diplomatic efforts underway, all eyes are on Moscow to see whether Russia will agree to the truce. The outcome of Witkoff’s visit will likely play a pivotal role in determining the future course of the conflict.
As global pressure mounts, the U.S. remains firm in its stance that any refusal from Russia will be met with severe economic consequences. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to seek assurances that a ceasefire will not merely serve as a temporary pause in hostilities.
