President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on August 13, saying Russia would face “severe consequences” if it refused to end its war in Ukraine. His remarks came ahead of a planned meeting with President Vladimir Putin on August 15.
“There will be consequences. I don’t have to say. There will be very severe consequences,” Trump told reporters during an appearance at the Kennedy Center.
In July, Trump had already cautioned that Russia could face sanctions and secondary tariffs unless Putin agreed to halt the conflict within 50 days. He later moved that deadline up to early August.
Efforts to end the war continue, but achieving a lasting peace remains a complex challenge, rooted in years of conflict. In April 2014, Russia-backed separatists seized control of several Ukrainian towns shortly after Russia annexed Crimea in February/March 2014. Then, in early 2022, Russia amassed troops along the Ukrainian border, leading to the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
Want to learn more shocking facts and figures about the Russia-Ukraine war? Click through the following gallery to discover more.