--- title: Trump Issues Stark Warning to Russia Ahead of Putin Summit description: Trump's remarks came shortly after he shared an “exceptionally constructive and good conversation” with Ukraine's Zelensky on Wednesday. canonical: https://time.com/7309297/trump-zelensky-call-putin-summit-russia-ukraine-war/ author: Solcyré Burga article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-08-13T13:49:24.000Z article:modified_time: 2025-08-23T16:45:35.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Trump Issues Stark Warning to Russia Ahead of Putin Summit og:description: Trump shared an “exceptionally constructive and good conversation with” Zelensky earlier on Wednesday. og:url: https://time.com/7309297/trump-zelensky-call-putin-summit-russia-ukraine-war/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte93be02da436d804/6998c8c225f3eec16d644e30/GettyImages-1000091266.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3807 og:image:height: 2141 og:image:alt: TOPSHOT-FINLAND-US-RUSSIA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-SUMMIT og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Trump Issues Stark Warning to Russia Ahead of Putin Summit twitter:description: Trump shared an “exceptionally constructive and good conversation with” Zelensky earlier on Wednesday. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte93be02da436d804/6998c8c225f3eec16d644e30/GettyImages-1000091266.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Trump Issues Stark Warning to Russia, Says 'Severe Consequences' Lie Ahead If Putin Does Not Agree to Stop the War > Sponsored content. 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Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. It reaches 85,000 subscribers with a 37.0% open rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: Trump Says His Meeting With Putin Will Be "Big," Insists it Won't Be a "Reward" for Putin [Watch (HLS stream): Trump Says His Meeting With Putin Will Be "Big," Insists it Won't Be a "Reward" for Putin](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/wrQEKMQ0.m3u8) (3:01)  _Published 2025-08-14. President Donald Trump warned that "severe consequences" lie ahead for Russia if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to stop the Ukraine war after they meet for a high-stakes summit in Alaska on Friday._  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Updated: Aug 23, 2025 4:45 PM UTCPublished: Aug 13, 2025 1:49 PM UTC  U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018.Brendan Smialowski—Getty Images  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Updated: Aug 23, 2025 4:45 PM UTCPublished: Aug 13, 2025 1:49 PM UTC [President Donald Trump](https://time.com/7280106/trump-interview-100-days-2025/) warned that "severe consequences" lie ahead for Russia if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to stop the Ukraine war after they meet for a high-stakes [summit](https://time.com/7308684/trump-putin-alaska-talks-ukraine/) in Alaska on Friday. Responding to a question from a reporter after announcing this year’s [recipients for the Kennedy Center Honors](https://time.com/7309301/trump-kennedy-center-honors-kiss-sylvester-stallone-george-strait/) in Washington, D.C., [Trump said](https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/trump-says-russia-could-face-consequences-if-putin-does-not-agree-to-end-war-244894789663) "there will be very severe consequences" and that "he doesn't have to" specify what, should Russia not move toward a cease-fire. Trump was then asked if he believes he can "convince" Putin to "stop targeting civilians in Ukraine," to which he replied: "I've had a lot of good conversations with him \[Putin\], but then I go home and see that a rocket hit a nursing home \[or an apartment building\] and people are laying dead in the street, so I guess the answer to that is 'no.'" The U.S. President went on to add that he wants to "end the war" and will be "very proud" to end it. Trump's remarks came shortly after he shared an “exceptionally constructive and good conversation” with Ukrainian President [Volodymyr Zelensky](https://time.com/7270880/zelensky-trump-putin-ukraine-endgame-interview/) and key European leaders on Wednesday, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Debriefing the press after the call, for which Trump dialled in virtually and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance was also on the line, Merz suggested “there is hope that something is moving,” ahead of the Putin summit. **Read More**:[ _Zelensky on Trump, Putin, and the Endgame in Ukraine_](https://time.com/7270880/zelensky-trump-putin-ukraine-endgame-interview/) Zelensky, meanwhile, warned Trump that Putin is “bluffing” about being open to a cease-fire and lasting peace. French President Emmanuel Macron divulged that while the group discussed a potential exchange of land, “as of today, there are no serious territorial exchange plans on the table.” Zelensky and Merz both reiterated the need for a cease-fire and strong Ukrainian security guarantees before any negotiations take place. Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, shared a positive outlook following the conversation. “Great call with \[Trump\], Zelensky, and European leaders ahead of President Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska. We are united in pushing to end this terrible war… and achieve just and lasting peace,” [Rutte said via social media](https://x.com/SecGenNATO/status/1955637536048500891). “Appreciate Trump’s leadership and close coordination with allies. The ball is now in Putin’s court.”  U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28, 2025. Saul Loeb—Getty Images Shortly after the call, [Vance spoke to U.S. soldiers at a military base in England](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6hd5OFfWjA), where he is currently on a trip with his family. “We are going to make it our mission as an Administration to bring peace to Europe once again,” Vance said. Zelensky touched down in Berlin early Wednesday to meet with Merz and others ahead of the all-important conversation with Trump. The opportunity served as Zelensky’s chance to make a final case to the U.S. President before he meets with Putin. Trump referred to the European leaders as “great people who want to see a deal done,” in a Truth Social [post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115021166810580379) early Wednesday. After the conversation, Zelensky said that Trump struck down the idea that Russia could veto Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations and reiterated calls for possible economic penalties on Russia—which the U.S. President has repeatedly promised to enact—should a cease-fire deal not be reached. Trump has also agreed to first inform Zelensky, then the key European leaders, of any updates following his conversation with Putin, according to Merz.  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin, Germany, on Aug. 13, 2025. Filip Singer—Getty Images Meanwhile, Trump previously stated that a lasting cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine war, which was triggered when[ Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022,](https://time.com/6256509/ukraine-russia-war-anniversary/) could only come through the exchange of territories “for the betterment of both.” Zelensky, backed by his European allies, staunchly denounced that idea, stating that Ukraine will not “gift their land to the occupier.” The Ukrainian leader doubled down on his position on Wednesday, saying: “I stress that any questions concerning our country’s territorial integrity cannot be discussed without regard for our people, for the will of our people and the Ukrainian constitution.” World leaders, such as France's Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, had previously urged Trump to[ consider inviting](https://time.com/7308731/europe-ukraine-trump-putin-summit/) Ukraine to the Putin summit while reiterating their support for the eastern European nation. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,” the leaders of France, Italy, the U.K., Germany, Poland, and Finland[ said in a statement](https://time.com/7308731/europe-ukraine-trump-putin-summit/) on Saturday. “We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.” Russian troops advanced deeper into Ukraine on Tuesday, in what some have[ viewed as a bid](https://time.com/7309066/russia-ukraine-war-advance-summit-putin-trump/) to pressure Kyiv into considering Putin’s demands for more territory. “We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war. On the contrary, they are making movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations,” Zelensky[ said](https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1955189164644635058). Furthermore, ahead of his call with Zelensky and others on Wednesday, Trump strongly criticized what he claimed has been “very unfair” media coverage of his upcoming talk with Putin. “Very unfair media is at work on my meeting with Putin. Constantly quoting fired losers and really dumb people,” Trump[ said via Truth Social](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115021272837599192), before referencing recent comments made by his former national security adviser John Bolton, who asserted that “Putin has already won,” in an interview with [_The Atlantic_](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/08/putin-trump-ukraine-summit-trap/683841/). “What’s that all about? We are winning on EVERYTHING. The fake news is working overtime. (No tax on overtime),” Trump maintained. **Read More:**[ _World Leaders React to Zelensky and Trump’s Oval Office Showdown_](https://time.com/7263291/zelensky-trump-oval-office-showdown-us-ukraine-world-leaders-react/) Amid much discussion over the Trump-Putin summit and what, if any, progress can be made, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has seemingly downplayed expectations. Addressing reporters on Tuesday, she said the meeting will serve as a “[listening exercise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmvy50nS8XY)” for Trump, in order for him to get a “better understanding” of how to end the war in Ukraine. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7309297/trump-zelensky-call-putin-summit-russia-ukraine-war/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7309297/trump-zelensky-call-putin-summit-russia-ukraine-war/"},"headline":"Trump Issues Stark Warning to Russia, Says 'Severe Consequences' Lie Ahead If Putin Does Not Agree to Stop the War","datePublished":"2025-08-13T13:49:24.000Z","dateModified":"2025-08-23T16:45:35.000Z","description":"Trump's remarks came shortly after he shared an “exceptionally constructive and good conversation” with Ukraine's Zelensky on Wednesday.","url":"https://time.com/7309297/trump-zelensky-call-putin-summit-russia-ukraine-war/","keywords":["Donald Trump","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte93be02da436d804/6998c8c225f3eec16d644e30/GettyImages-1000091266.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Solcyré Burga","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte93be02da436d804/6998c8c225f3eec16d644e30/GettyImages-1000091266.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TOPSHOT-FINLAND-US-RUSSIA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-SUMMIT","caption":"TOPSHOT-FINLAND-US-RUSSIA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-SUMMIT","creditText":"Brendan Smialowski—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/donald-trump/","name":"Donald Trump"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7309297/trump-zelensky-call-putin-summit-russia-ukraine-war/","name":"Trump Issues Stark Warning to Russia, Says 'Severe Consequences' Lie Ahead If Putin Does Not Agree to Stop the War"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Trump Says His Meeting With Putin Will Be \"Big,\" Insists it Won't Be a \"Reward\" for Putin","description":"President Donald Trump warned that \"severe consequences\" lie ahead for Russia if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to stop the Ukraine war after they meet for a high-stakes summit in Alaska on Friday.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/wrQEKMQ0/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2025-08-14T20:18:45.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/wrQEKMQ0.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/7309297/trump-zelensky-call-putin-summit-russia-ukraine-war/","duration":"PT3M1S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/7309297/trump-zelensky-call-putin-summit-russia-ukraine-war/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```