Trump is scheduled to meet with Putin in Alaska

In a virtual summit with President Trump on Wednesday, European leaders urged him not to pursue a unilateral peace deal concerning Ukraine during his upcoming one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage on Friday. Following the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Trump was "very clear" in expressing that Washington's goal is to achieve a ceasefire and stressed that Ukraine's territorial issues cannot be resolved without the involvement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump told reporters that if his meeting with Putin produces positive outcomes, a subsequent meeting between the Russian leader and Zelensky could take place "almost immediately." However, Trump also warned that Russia would face "very severe consequences" if Putin does not agree to end the conflict. The president did not specify whether this would involve imposing new sanctions or tariffs.