Trump threatens “extreme penalties” for Russia except it agrees to ceasefire in Ukraine : NPR

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Filip Singer/Getty Photographs Europe BERLIN — European leaders met just about with President Trump right this moment, urging him to press Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire and safety ensures for Ukraine earlier than any peace talks start. The Trump-Putin assembly is about for Friday in Alaska — with out Ukraine's president on the desk.

At a joint press convention with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned Trump agreed that Russia should decide to these phrases earlier than negotiations begin. Merz mentioned Europe, NATO, and Trump have been "in broad settlement" on subsequent steps — together with rejecting authorized recognition of Russian-occupied territory.

Merz warned that Europe's safety and democracy are at stake if Russia's invasion goes unchallenged, saying Putin may goal different nations if allowed to maintain land taken by pressure.

"The technique relies on supporting Ukraine and placing strain on Russia. So, if in Alaska there is no motion on the Russian facet, then the US and the Europeans want to extend the strain."

Talking later on the Kennedy Heart in Washington, Trump known as the assembly "pleasant" and rated it "a ten." He mentioned there's "an excellent likelihood" of a follow-up summit with Putin and Zelenskyy "nearly instantly" if Friday's talks go nicely — but in addition warned that "very extreme penalties" await Russia if there is no ceasefire deal.

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs/Bloomberg Nonetheless, Trump acknowledged he does not consider he can cease Putin from concentrating on civilians, casting doubt on the probabilities for a fast truce.

"I've had quite a lot of good conversations with him. Then I'm going residence and I see {that a} rocket hit a nursing residence, or a rocket hit an house constructing, and persons are laying useless within the state. So, I assume the reply to that's no, as a result of I've had this dialog

Putin now controls almost 20% of Ukraine, together with Crimea and most of 4 jap areas. He's demanding Ukraine withdraw from remaining territory there and abandon plans to hitch NATO — calls for Kyiv calls unconstitutional and unacceptable.