BERLIN — President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that there will be "very severe consequences" if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to halt the war in Ukraine following their upcoming summit in Alaska. Trump made this statement during a press conference after announcing the recipients of this year’s Kennedy Center Honors in Washington. He did not specify what the consequences would entail.

The president's comments came shortly after he participated in a virtual meeting with European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Putin's intentions, stating that the Russian leader is "bluffing" regarding his capability to occupy all of Ukraine and dismiss sanctions.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who organized the meeting, emphasized the importance of protecting European and Ukrainian security interests. He noted that "important decisions" could be made during the summit in Alaska and insisted that a ceasefire should be the starting point for negotiations. Merz stated that Trump is committed to making this a priority in his discussions with Putin.

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this sentiment, saying Trump was "very clear" about the U.S. goal of achieving a ceasefire at the summit. Macron also mentioned that Trump plans to pursue a trilateral meeting involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy in the future, ideally in a neutral European country.

Zelenskyy, who traveled to Berlin for the meeting, reiterated his doubts about Putin's willingness to negotiate in good faith. He expressed hope that an immediate ceasefire would be the central topic of discussion in Alaska but argued that Putin "definitely does not want peace." Zelenskyy accused Putin of trying to exert pressure on all fronts of the Ukrainian conflict to demonstrate Russia's capability to occupy the entire country.

Trump described the upcoming summit as a "feel-out meeting" to gauge Putin's seriousness about ending the war, which has now entered its fourth year. However, his comments have raised concerns among European allies, particularly regarding his suggestion that Ukraine may need to concede some territory held by Russia. Trump has also mentioned the possibility of land swaps, though it remains unclear what concessions Russia might be expected to make.

During the virtual meeting, Trump did not clarify whether he would advocate for Zelenskyy’s participation in his discussions with Putin. He suggested that a subsequent meeting could involve both leaders and himself, but European leaders are wary of being sidelined in negotiations that could favor Moscow.

Merz warned that if there is no progress from Russia during the Alaska summit, the U.S. and European nations should increase pressure on Moscow. Zelenskyy has firmly rejected any proposal that would require Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region it controls, stating that such a move would be unconstitutional and could lead to further Russian aggression.

As the situation develops, military analysts have noted that Russian forces are advancing in the Donbas region, particularly around the city of Pokrovsk. Losing this strategic location could significantly impact Ukraine's supply lines and provide Russia with a crucial victory ahead of the summit.