Trump Threatens Russia with Sanctions as Ukraine Peace Talks Stall

President Donald Trump has warned Russia of tough new sanctions unless progress is made toward peace in Ukraine within two weeks.

The statement comes just a week after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where hopes for a breakthrough fizzled. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump expressed frustration over the ongoing war, particularly after a Russian attack on a U.S.-owned factory in Ukraine that left workers injured and sparked a fire.

“I’m really not happy about this war,” Trump said. “We’re looking at big sanctions, maybe tariffs, or both. Or we might just step back and say, ‘This is your fight.’” His comments reflect a shift from last week, when he paused sanctions to encourage talks with Putin.

The Alaska summit, held on August 15, failed to produce a ceasefire, and Trump’s earlier suggestion of a deal involving Ukrainian territory drew pushback from European allies.

• Trump Warns Russia of New Sanctions as Ukraine Peace Talks Collapse
• Zelenskiy, NATO Urge Stronger Sanctions After Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Fails
• Ukraine War Escalates: Trump’s Two-Week Ultimatum to Moscow on Ceasefire

In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, joined by NATO chief Mark Rutte, accused Russia of blocking a potential follow-up meeting with Putin. Zelenskiy stressed that any peace deal must include strong security guarantees, similar to NATO’s mutual defense pact, and urged allies to use sanctions to pressure Russia into serious negotiations. Rutte echoed this, saying NATO is focused on ensuring protections to prevent future Russian attacks.

The war, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion, has claimed over a million lives and shows no sign of slowing. Russia insists on controlling four Ukrainian regions, while Zelenskiy says giving up territory would require constitutional changes—an unlikely step. Trump, meanwhile, flashed a photo from the Alaska summit and hinted at Putin’s interest in attending the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., suggesting diplomacy isn’t entirely off the table.

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As Trump’s two-week deadline approaches, the threat of sanctions hangs heavy, but their impact is uncertain. Russia’s recent battlefield gains add urgency to the crisis, leaving the world watching to see if peace talks can gain traction.