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US President Donald Trump teased the possibility of new sanctions against Russia if it doesn’t put an end to its conflict in Ukraine, indicating that “you’ll see actions taken” if he’s not pleased with Vladimir Putin’s response. Trump is also scheduled to have a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, according to a White House official, following earlier statements from Zelensky and European leaders that they anticipated a call.
In the Oval Office, while meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Trump stated, “I don’t have a message for President Putin; he knows where I stand, and he’ll make a decision regardless.” He added, “Whatever he decides, we’ll either be content with it or not. And if we’re not satisfied, you’ll see things happen.”
These remarks coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who attended a massive military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reaffirming Russia’s commitment to fight in Ukraine if peace negotiations fail. Diplomatic efforts by the U.S. to broker a peace deal seem to have reached an impasse.
Putin has shown limited interest in meeting with Trump’s suggested talks between Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Meanwhile, Trump has kept vague about potential actions if Putin doesn’t cooperate. Despite this, Trump pushed back against claims of leniency toward Moscow, referencing secondary sanctions recently imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil and hinting at additional measures being considered.
“I haven’t even implemented phases two and three yet,” Trump remarked, without providing specifics. On Thursday, he plans to speak with Zelensky and European officials.
“I’ll be talking with him soon, and I’ll know what our next steps are,” Trump said when asked by an AFP reporter. A White House official later confirmed, “Trump is referring to Zelensky; they will be speaking tomorrow.”
The upcoming summit in Paris will feature a hybrid format, with some leaders attending physically and others joining via video call. This will be followed by a phone discussion with Trump, scheduled to start at 12:00 GMT, and a press briefing at 13:00 GMT, according to the French presidency. Earlier Wednesday, Zelensky expressed his hope to press Trump for additional sanctions against Russia.
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