U.S. President Donald Trump has once again threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions if there is no progress toward a Ukraine peace deal in the coming weeks. His comments come just days after his high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where both leaders discussed possible steps to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump expressed frustration after reports of a Russian military strike on an American-owned factory in Ukraine, which left several workers injured.
“I’m going to make a very important decision, whether it’s massive sanctions, massive tariffs, or both. Or we do nothing and say it’s your fight,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
The remarks highlight Trump’s attempt to pressure Moscow while also keeping his options open.
Zelenskiy Accuses Moscow of Blocking Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been calling for a direct meeting with Putin, saying it is the only way to negotiate an end to the conflict. However, Zelenskiy accused Russia on Friday of deliberately stalling peace negotiations.
At a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Zelenskiy said:
“The meeting is one of the components of how to end the war. Since they don’t want to end it, they will find space to avoid it.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pushed back, telling NBC News there was no agreed agenda for a summit.
“Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskiy when the agenda is ready. And this agenda is not ready at all,” Lavrov said.
This is consistent with Moscow’s long-standing strategy: delaying direct talks until Kyiv accepts Russia’s territorial conditions.
NATO Promises Strong Security Guarantees for Ukraine
NATO’s new leader, Mark Rutte, used his visit to Kyiv to emphasize that the alliance is working on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelenskiy compared these commitments to NATO’s Article 5, which ensures collective defense if one member is attacked.
“Robust security guarantees will be essential. This is what we are now working on to define so that Russia will never try to attack again,” Rutte said.
This effort comes as Ukraine prepares to mark Independence Day, underscoring the urgency of securing stronger defense commitments even as the war grinds on.
Trump, Putin, and the World Cup
In a lighter moment at the White House, Trump showed reporters a photo from his meeting with Putin in Alaska. He hinted that the Russian president may attend the 2026 Soccer World Cup in the United States, though Russia remains banned from international competitions due to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“He may be coming, and he may not, depending on what happens,” Trump said.
Putin, for his part, praised Trump’s leadership during a visit to a Russian nuclear research facility, describing their talks as a “light at the end of the tunnel” for U.S.-Russia relations.
Heavy Costs of the Russia-Ukraine War
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed, and analysts estimate that over a million soldiers on both sides have been killed or wounded. Fighting continues along multiple fronts, with attacks on energy and defense facilities worsening humanitarian conditions.
Moscow has demanded that Ukraine surrender control of two eastern regions while freezing the current front lines in the south. While some analysts suggest Russia may consider limited territorial concessions, Ukraine has rejected negotiating under what Zelenskiy calls “the barrel of a gun.”
What Comes Next
The next two weeks could prove critical. Trump’s decision on whether to impose new economic sanctions on Russia will shape not only U.S.-Russia relations but also global markets and the future of the Ukraine peace process.
At the same time, NATO’s work on security guarantees may determine how far Moscow is willing to push. For Ukraine, the challenge remains surviving the war while securing stronger international backing.