Trump Signals Sanctions If Ukraine Peace Talks Fail Amid Putin Tensions

President Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin directly to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, claiming that Putin is "tired" of the conflict and ready to negotiate. Despite Trump's efforts, including flirting with traveling to Turkey for talks, Putin declined to attend peace negotiations in person, sending lower-level officials instead, which frustrated U.S. and European leaders. Trump has criticized Ukraine's President Zelensky for being difficult in negotiations and emphasized his belief that only a direct Trump-Putin meeting can result in a deal. While Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Russia if talks fail, his stance on sanctions and peace talks appears inconsistent, causing confusion among Western allies. The latest peace talks in Istanbul ended without progress, as Russia maintained sweeping demands including Ukraine's neutrality and recognition of territorial losses. Experts warn that Trump's history of siding with Putin complicates U.S. efforts to pressure Russia, but Trump insists that a face-to-face meeting remains the best chance to resolve the war.