US President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatening “severe consequences” if Moscow blocks progress toward peace in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump indicated that punitive measures, possibly including new economic sanctions, could follow if Friday’s scheduled meeting in Alaska fails to achieve results. However, he stopped short of detailing what those consequences might be.

Trump suggested that the Alaska talks could pave the way for a second, broader summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “If the first one goes okay, we’ll have a quick second one,” Trump said. “I would like to do it almost immediately, and we’ll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy and myself, if they’d like me there.”

The US president blamed the ongoing conflict on the previous administration, stating, “This is Biden’s work, this is not my work. He got us into this thing. This war would have never happened if I were President. But it is what it is. I am here to fix it.”

Trump also highlighted his record on global conflicts, claiming, “If we can save a lot of lives, it will be a great thing. I have stopped five wars in the last six months. On top of that, we wiped out the nuclear capability of Iran, obliterated it.”

The warning comes after a high-level virtual conference hosted by Germany, which included Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders. The meeting aimed to establish non-negotiable positions ahead of the Alaska talks. “We had a very good call. President Zelenskyy was on the call. I would rate it a 10, very friendly,” Trump said.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that Trump agreed Ukraine’s territorial integrity must not be compromised without Kyiv’s consent and supported security guarantees for Ukraine in any post-war arrangement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that respecting borders remains a fundamental principle, warning that if Russia does not shift its stance, Western nations would increase pressure.

The Alaska meeting seeks to address the nearly three-and-a-half-year-old war, the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. Trump has previously floated the idea of a possible territorial exchange, sparking concern in Kyiv and among European allies.

Ahead of the talks, Zelenskyy traveled to Berlin for consultations and warned that Putin’s recent military gains in eastern Ukraine were an attempt to pressure Kyiv into concessions. “I told the US president and all our European colleagues that Putin is bluffing about wanting to end the war,” Zelenskyy said. “Russia is trying to show that it can occupy all of Ukraine, but this is an attempt to intimidate before the Alaska talks.”

The Kremlin, however, maintains its hardline position. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexei Fadeev reiterated that Moscow’s demands remain unchanged since last year.

If the Alaska meeting yields progress, officials are considering potential venues for a three-way summit involving Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy. European governments have cautiously welcomed Trump’s initiative but insist that no agreement can be reached without Ukraine’s direct participation.