Trump warns Putin of ‘devastating’ consequence if it refuses ceasefire deal

US President Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin, of "devastating" outcomes if Moscow refused a deal on a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.

Speaking after a meeting with Ireland Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the White House on March 12, Trump said that US negotiators are headed to Russia "right now" for talks on a possible ceasefire with Ukraine without divulging more details. The development comes a day after Kyiv agreed to a 30-day truce.

"We could do things very bad for Russia. It would be devastating for Russia. But I don't want to do that because I want to see peace, and we're getting close to maybe getting something done," Trump told reporters.

The US visit comes amid Putin’s tour to Russia's Kursk region, parts of which have been under Ukraine's control since an incursion last year.

Meanwhile, the White House said that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, would be visiting Russia later this week.

"People are going to Russia right now as we speak. And hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia. And if we do, I think that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath finished," he said while talking about the ongoing war which began three years ago.

Trump's warning to Putin came two weeks after his heated exchange with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House over the US's stance on the war.

He also stopped military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine but resumed after Kyiv agreed to the truce proposal on March 11 following talks in Saudi Arabia.

This was the first meeting between US and Ukrainian officials since the Feb 28 meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vice-President JD Vance.

Following the Jeddah meeting, Trump said that he believes that the "difficult" Ukrainian side and Zelenskyy now want peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was now up to the US to convince Russia to agree to the "positive" proposal.

"Ukraine welcomes this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take such a step. The United States of America has to convince Russia to do this," he said.

"So, we agree, and if the Russians agree, the ceasefire will work at that very moment," the Ukrainian leader added. Zelenskyy also said that Ukrainians had no confidence that fighting would stop as none of them trusted Russians.

"I have emphasized this many times: none of us trust the Russians. Everything depends on whether Russia wants a ceasefire and silence, or it wants to continue killing people," he added.

The Kremlin has said it was studying the ceasefire deal, and that a phone call between Trump and Putin is possible, as reported by the BBC.