US President Donald Trump warned Russia of severe consequences if it refuses to reach an agreement with Ukraine. He expressed his disappointment over the failure of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to take steps towards a bilateral meeting. Trump emphasized the necessity for Moscow and Kyiv to engage in dialogue to end the war that has lasted more than three years. He stated, “It requires cooperation between the two sides and they must meet. I believe we will end this war.” Regarding what he would do if Russia refuses to reach a peace agreement, Trump said, “There will be severe consequences, but we will see what happens,” without further clarification. He added, “We will see what happens in the next week or two, and if no agreement is reached, I will intervene strongly.

Either we reach an agreement or we don’t.” Since February 24, 2022, Russia has been conducting a military attack on its neighbor Ukraine, demanding Kyiv abandon joining Western military entities, which Kyiv considers an interference in its affairs.