Washington – US President Donald Trump (79) has threatened Russia with"very serious consequences" if Russian President Vladimir Putin (72) fails to make concessions regarding a possible halt to the war in Ukraine at the upcoming meeting in Alaska on Friday.

According to Trump, there's a good chance there will be a second meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The second summit—this time with Putin AND Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (47)—should take place soon.

Trump spoke at the Kennedy Center in the US capital on Wednesday afternoon (local time). Initially, US journalists questioned him primarily on domestic policy issues.

But then Trump did comment on global politics:"I would be very proud to end the war," said Donald Trump, noting the prospects for success. He had already ended five wars in the last six months and spent"trillions of dollars on defense."

But: When asked by a journalist whether Trump believed he could dissuade Putin from further attacks on Ukrainian civilians, the US president replied:"No, I don't think so." He said he had heard this promise from the Russian dictator too often. Unfortunately, Russian missiles had repeatedly struck residential buildings and nursing homes afterward.

On the summit meeting: “I would rate it a 10!”

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (69, CDU) had previously received Zelensky and convened a virtual meeting with the heads of state of Great Britain, France, Poland and Finland, the EU leaders and the US government to ensure that the voices of the EU and Ukraine are heard at the Alaska summit.

Trump rated the afternoon's talks with European heads of state and government and Zelenskyy as very good."I would rate it a 10," the US president said.

Just last Friday, Trump's ultimatum to Putin, demanding an immediate end to the war in Ukraine, expired. However, this had no consequences for Russia.

How seriously should the threat be taken?

According to security expert Peter Neumann (Professor of Security Studies at King’s College London), the threat could indicate that “the Merz initiative has been successful.”

But with Trump, it's often the case"that he changes his positions quickly and often reflects on what he's recently heard," Neumann told BILD.

If Trump had returned to a position that would seriously defend the interests of Ukraine and the West against Putin, that would certainly be positive.

"Now he just has to hold out until Friday," said Neumann.

Trump recently announced a doubling of US import tariffs on India, which continues to import oil from Russia. The president also did not mention any specific sanctions against Russia during his appearance on Wednesday.