Putin Must Agree to Lasting Peace or Face Consequences, Says Mark Burns
Evangelical pastor Mark Burns, a prominent conservative commentator, long-time Trump ally, and vocal advocate for Ukraine, stated that the U.S. President will be ready to act more decisively if Moscow is not ready for a genuine peace deal.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Burns’s interview with Ukrainian media Apostrophe.
Mark Burns, who has travelled to Ukraine and met both political leaders and frontline soldiers, said Trump will “know within the first two minutes” whether Putin is serious about ending the war or simply stalling.
If Putin is “playing games,” Burns said, Trump will leave the talks immediately and move to give Ukraine the security guarantees needed to “crush any hostile activity Russia might attempt.”
“The president is aiming for a just and lasting peace – not a temporary truce or political theatre,” Burns said. “Ukrainians deserve real peace, and America will ensure that peace is the one we all want, not one dictated by the Kremlin.”
Burns pointed to recent U.S. actions, including sending two nuclear submarines to the region and imposing tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil, as evidence that Washington is ready to intensify pressure on Moscow.
He added that China, another major buyer of Russian resources, could face serious economic repercussions if it fails to push Russia toward negotiations.
The pastor insisted Trump is “100% committed to defending Ukraine’s sovereignty” and would use “the full strength of the United States” if Russia continues its attacks.
Accusing Russia of war crimes, Burns cited deliberate strikes on churches, the killing of clergy, and atrocities in towns such as Bucha. He also warned that Kremlin-backed disinformation continues to mislead some Americans by portraying Russia as a defender of conservative values.
“This summit sends a powerful signal – for the first time in years, the Russian dictator is coming to U.S. soil. The message from President Trump is clear: stop the killing, agree to a lasting peace, or face devastating economic consequences,” Burns said.
Read more on The Gaze: Trump-Putin Gambit: Scenarios and Stakes for Ukraine