Donald Trump warns Putin of ‘Devastating’ sanctions amid ceasefire talks

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday cautioned Russian President Vladimir Putin of severe sanctions if Moscow refuses to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine war.

Following his meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the White House, Trump revealed that US negotiators were en route to Russia for discussions on a potential ceasefire. This development comes a day after Ukraine agreed to a 30-day truce. However, Trump refrained from disclosing further details.

The White House later clarified that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to visit Moscow later this week for negotiations.

“We have options that could be devastating for Russia, but I don’t want to go down that road. I want peace, and we’re getting closer to making that happen,” Trump told reporters.

He emphasized the urgency of diplomatic efforts, stating, “Officials are on their way to Russia as we speak. If we secure a ceasefire, that would bring us 80 percent closer to ending this horrific conflict.”

Trump’s remarks come just two weeks after his heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House over US support for Kyiv. Shortly after, he temporarily halted military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, but assistance resumed once Kyiv agreed to the truce proposal on Tuesday.

With tensions high and diplomatic talks underway, the world watches closely to see if a breakthrough can be achieved in the three-year-long war.