Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal: Trump warns Putin of 'doing things' that would be 'very bad'

US President Donald Trump has warned his Russian counterpart of "doing things" if the nation refuses for a ceasefire deal with Ukraine. He suggested that financial measures could be used to pressure Moscow but emphasised his priority was achieving peace.

While responding to the question about pressuring Russia, Trump said, "I can do things financially, that would be very bad for Russia. I don't want to do that because I want to get peace."

He has said that a ceasefire in Ukraine would benefit Russia but warned of potential downsides, without providing further details.


According to Reuters, Trump confirmed that US officials were set to visit Russia to discuss a proposed 30-day halt in hostilities and the possibility of peace talks. After extensive discussions in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire, leaving the next move to Russia.

"Hopefully we can get a ceasefire from Russia," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he had received positive signals but remained cautious about the situation. The Kremlin, meanwhile, stated that it was awaiting details from Washington before responding to the proposal.

Washington seeks unconditional Russian agreement

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that the Biden administration wanted Moscow to accept the ceasefire without conditions. "If their response is 'yes', we know we've made real progress. If it's 'no', then their intentions are clear," he said while en route to a G7 meeting in Canada.

Russian news agencies reported that the heads of the CIA and Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service had engaged in their first direct communication in years. Meanwhile, defense ministers from France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and Poland met in Paris to discuss support for Ukraine and the ceasefire proposal.

Although Russia has not officially responded, its foreign ministry had earlier rejected a temporary ceasefire as an acceptable solution. Trump warned that severe sanctions were possible if Russia refused to comply. "I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia. I don't want to do that because I want to get peace," he reiterated.

Ukraine remains skeptical

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed doubt over Russia's willingness to uphold a ceasefire, stating that the US was prepared to increase pressure on Moscow. "Everything depends on whether Russia wants peace or to continue killing people," AFP quoted him as saying.

Ukraine has faced increasing challenges on the battlefield, losing ground in the east and south. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited troops in the western Kursk region and assured them that "all combat tasks will be fulfilled."

Meanwhile, Moscow reported that its forces had shot down 77 Ukrainian drones, just days after Kyiv launched its most extensive attack on the Russian capital in the war’s three-year history. Several Ukrainian cities, including Kherson and Kyiv, also came under attack, with reports of casualties.

(With inputs from Reuters, AFP)