WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump hinted on Wednesday at new sanctions against Russia if President Vladimir Putin fails to end the Ukraine war, saying “you’ll see things happen” if he’s dissatisfied with Putin’s response.
Trump will also speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, a White House official said, cited by AFP, after Zelensky and European leaders said earlier that they expected a call.
“I have no message to President Putin, he knows where I stand, and he’ll make a decision one way or the other,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he met Polish President Karol Nawrocki.
“Whatever his decision is, we’ll either be happy about it or unhappy. And if we’re unhappy about it, you’ll see things happen.”
Trump’s comments came as Putin attended a huge military parade in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean President Kim Jong Un in Beijing.
The US president’s diplomatic efforts to secure a peace deal appear to have stalled.
Putin ready to meet Zelensky in Moscow
Meanwhile, speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to hold talks with Zelensky if the Ukrainian president came to Moscow.
Zelensky has been pressing to meet Putin to discuss the terms of a possible Ukraine peace deal, and Trump has said he wants the two leaders to meet.
Putin said Trump had asked him to meet with Zelensky during their meeting last month in Alaska. The Russian President added that he had conveyed to the US President of his readiness to meet Zelensky.
“As for a meeting with Zelensky, I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. But is there any point? Let’s see,” Putin told reporters.
“Donald asked me if I could possibly arrange such a meeting. I replied that yes, it’s possible. Ultimately, if Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow – then the meeting will take place.”
Meanwhile, Trump also rejected suggestions that he was soft on Moscow — citing recent secondary sanctions on India for buying Russian oil, and indicating that more could be on the table.
“You call that no action? And I haven’t done phase two and phase three yet,” added Trump, without elaborating.
Trump to speak to Zelensky
Trump is now set to speak to Zelensky and European leaders on Thursday.
“I’m having a conversation with him very shortly and I’ll know pretty much what we’re going to be doing,” Trump said in response to a question.
Later, a White House official, cited by AFP, said, “President Trump was referring to Zelensky. They will be speaking tomorrow.”
The Paris gathering will be held in a mixed format, with some leaders attending in person and others via video link.
The summit will be followed by phone talks with Trump, to begin at 1200 GMT, and a 1300 GMT press conference, the French presidency said.
Zelensky said earlier Wednesday that he hoped to push Trump for new sanctions.
Putin said that in his view, Ukraine needed to cancel martial law, hold elections, and hold a referendum about territorial questions if progress was to be made.
