Trump warns Russia of 'very severe consequences' if ceasefire is rejected

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that Russia would face "very severe consequences" if President Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine during their upcoming meeting.

After a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders, Trump said that if his talks with Putin go smoothly, he hopes to hold a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelensky in the near future.

Earlier in the day, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that Washington could tighten sanctions on Moscow if the Trump-Putin talks fail to produce results.

The one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin is scheduled for Friday in Anchorage, the largest city in the US state of Alaska. Trump described the upcoming talks as a "feel-out meeting."