Trump warns Putin of ‘rough situation’ if he does not move towards peace in Ukraine but tells Zelenskyy to ‘show flexibility’ – live | Ukraine

Trump also spoke about the challenges of the negotiation with Putin and Zelenskyy, saying:

“I told him [Putin] that we’re going to set up a meeting with President Zelenskyy and you and he will meet and then after that meeting if everything works out, okay, I’ll lead and we’ll wrap it up.

But, you know, it takes, in this case, two to tango.

They have to have somewhat of a relationship. Otherwise, we’re just wasting a lot of time. I don’t want to be doing that.

I just want to end it. I want to end it. You know, we’re not losing American lives. We’re not losing American soldiers. We’re losing Russian and Ukrainian … mostly soldiers. Some people, as missiles hit wrong spots or get lobbed into cities like Kyiv and towns.

But you know, if I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s… I want to try and get to heaven if possible.”

Trump also offered a bit of an insight on his thinking about security guarantees for Ukraine, saying that while Europeans were “willing to put people on the ground,” the US focus was on air operations, PA reported.

Trump said:

“We’re willing to help them with things, especially probably if you could talk about by air, because there’s nobody has the kind of stuff we have.”

The US president also repeated his warning that Vladimir Putin would face a “rough situation” if he did not co-operate in the peace process, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy had to “show some flexibility”, PA reported.

Ahead of a hoped-for meeting by the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, Trump told Fox News:

“I hope President Putin is going to be good and if he’s not, that’s going to be a rough situation.

“And I hope that Zelensky, President Zelensky, will do what he has to do. He has to show some flexibility.”

US president Donald Trump appeared on Fox News in the last half hour, talking about the prospects for a peace settlement in Ukraine.

He said he hoped Russian president Vladimir Putin would move forwards towards ending the war in Ukraine, but conceded it was possible the Russian leader didn’t want to make a deal, Reuters reported.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem, to be honest with you. I think Putin is tired of it. I think they’re all tired of it, but you never know,” Trump said in an interview with the Fox News “Fox + Friends” program.

“We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks … It’s possible that he doesn’t want to make a deal,” Trump said, adding that Putin faced a “rough situation” if that was not the case.

The virtual informal summit of the European Council is now also under way to debrief the leaders of the 27 on last night’s talks in Washington DC and the next steps.

European Council president António Costa posted a picture of himself taking part in the call, confirming it was on-going.

He said:

“The EU firmly supports the Ukrainian people and President @ZelenskyyUa.

Ukraine has been – and will remain – at the top of Leaders’ agendas in the weeks and months ahead, as we continue to support efforts toward a just and sustainable peace.

As a first step, Russia must immediately end the violence.”

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who took part in last night’s talks, said:

“In Washington DC. talks advanced on strong security guarantees for Ukraine, ending the bloodshed, sanctions and the return of the abducted children. Our work and close cooperation continues.”

Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk also offered an update after his earlier participation in the “Coalition of the Willing” meeting online.

He said:

“The leaders of Canada, Japan, Turkey, New Zealand, and European countries assessed the outcomes of the Alaska meeting very realistically. We all confirmed the need for continued support for Ukraine in the war with Russia. A good introduction to the European Council that is just beginning.”

Geneva is emerging as a potential location for a peace summit between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as first floated by the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Speaking to reporters after his White House visit, Macron said the summit should be hosted by “a neutral country, maybe Switzerland – I’m pushing for Geneva – or another country.”

He told LCI/TF1 that “it’s more than a hypothesis, it’s the collective will” of the leaders.

And the Swiss foreign minister, Ignazio Cassis, confirmed this morning that the country could organise the summit.

In comments reported by the Swiss public broadcaster SRF, Cassis said that Switzerland could host the talks despite the outstanding arrest warrant on Putin, using its special role and Geneva’s status as the European headquarters of the UN.

As a signatory of the Rome Statute, Switzerland would be technically obliged to arrest Putin on his arrival to Switzerland, but Cassis appeared to suggest there is a way around it with temporary immunity to facilitate the peace talks.

The call in the “Coalition of the Willing” format appears to be under way, at least according to Poland’s deputy prime minister and defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

He is leading the Polish government’s cabinet meeting today, filling in for PM Tusk, who is on the call.

In his opening remarks for media, Kosiniak-Kamysz revealed the call was on going, and stressed the importance of Poland’s role on providing support and infrastructural security for all deliveries to Ukraine.

“The prime minister’s participation is important because the dynamics have accelerated, and the last hours and days show how crucial a moment this is for the world and for Europe – and the government is active,” he argued.

He also repeated the aim of “negotiating peace, a truce that offers a chance for durability and fair outcomes.”

Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson also posted about getting ready for the series of calls – first in the “Coalition of the Willing” format and then in the EU format.

In a post on X, he stressed that Sweden was the fifth largest donor to Ukraine, and remained acutely aware of the direct consequences of how the war ends for its security.

“The pressure on Russia must increase, and I emphasise this in every conversation,” he said.

European political group leaders’ have briefed by the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on last night’s talks in Washington, Ireland’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Simon Harris revealed.

Posting on social media, he said von der Leyen spoke with leaders of the centre-right EPP grouping earflier today.

“Attending an @EPP briefing for Leaders from President @vonderleyen this morning on the White House talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

Important work in the days and the weeks ahead.

There must be a just, lasting and enduring peace.”