Trump warns Russia of “severe consequences” if war doesn’t end

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Donald Trump says Russia will face “very severe consequences” if Russian leaders don’t stop the war with Ukraine.

The White House this week lowered expectations for this meeting, calling it a listening session, between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President Trump says this meeting isn’t meant to end the war between Russia and Ukraine instead it’s a chance for the president to get a better understanding of how to end the war.

“It’s going to be a very important meeting, but it’s setting the table for the second meeting,” said Trump.

The president says a second meeting hinges on whether he believes Russia is ready to make a deal to end the biggest land war in Europe since 1945.

The fight began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022.

“If the first one goes OK, we will have a quick second one, I would like to do it almost immediately,” said Trump.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy won’t be in attendance on Friday, but President Trump says he spoke with Zelenskyy, and he’ll talk with him again after the meeting with Putin.

“There can be no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine,” said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

On a video call on Wednesday, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European leaders say they asked President Trump to push for a ceasefire and set up a future meeting with presidents Putin, Zelenskyy and President Trump.

Zelenskyy says a deal must include security guarantees for Ukraine, but he says Putin “definitely does not want peace.”

As Russia continues to accumulate land in the eastern part of Ukraine President Trump says he’s asked Putin not to target civilians.

“I’ve had a lot of good conversations with him and then I see a rocket hit a nursing home or a rocket hit an apartment building and people are laying dead in the street,” said Trump.

President Zelenskyy says he’s not willing to give up any territory Ukraine controls.  He says it would serve as a springboard for a future invasion.