US President Donald Trump did not rule out that if efforts to resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict do not yield results, Washington may exert serious pressure on both sides. He made this statement during a meeting in the Oval Office with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump's remarks were reported by Fox News.
“If the war does not come to an end, we will take decisive measures. Frankly speaking, this could affect both sides — both Russia and Ukraine,” said the American leader.
Trump: Firmness is a possible option
While expressing hope that peace could still be achieved through negotiations, the American president stated:
“In my view, there is a certain timeframe for a peace agreement. If this process proves ineffective, regardless of which side is responsible, the US will stand firm on its principles.”
Trump also emphasized that the US is once again playing a central role in resolving this conflict.
Merz: Germany will continue to apply pressure on Russia
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also expressed his viewpoint during the negotiations. He emphasized that Germany is firmly positioned in supporting Ukraine and is therefore striving to exert strong pressure on Russia.
“We believe that this conflict can only be resolved through dialogue. Therefore, it is essential for us to continue our consultations and cooperation in this regard,” said Merz.
Conversation with Putin and alarming signals
A few days before this meeting — on June 4, Trump had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the conversation, the parties discussed the operation named “Spider Web” carried out by Ukraine against Russian military airfields.
Putin indicated during the conversation that the likelihood of achieving peace in Ukraine in the near future is very low and emphasized that there would be a complete response to the attacks on military areas in Moscow.
Trump is maintaining diplomatic balance
So far, Axios has reported that Trump is concerned about operations conducted by Ukrainian forces on Russian territory and the retaliatory strikes from Moscow. The reason is that such military actions could complicate peace negotiations.
Donald Trump views the Ukraine issue as one of the most important matters in global politics. However, he does not rule out the possibility of applying pressure and sanctions if necessary, in addition to diplomatic dialogue in the ongoing process.
While there is hope for negotiated solutions to stop the war, the balance of power is becoming increasingly sharp. The US aims to maintain its influence in this process.
