Trump on his way to Alaska for ‘high stakes’ meeting with Putin
US president Donald Trump is on his way to the summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin and is expected to land in Anchorage, Alaska, at 9 pm Belgian time. The talks could be decisive for the end of the war in Ukraine, although it is unclear how much can really be expected.
Trump will meet Putin in Alaska for the first time since the start of his second term in office. The two leaders will discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine. “High stakes,” Trump wrote in capital letters and with several exclamation marks on his own online platform, Truth Social, about the meeting. The talks could be decisive for the end of the war in Ukraine. However, it is unclear how much can really be expected.
Ukraine, which is not allowed to join the talks in Alaska, has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for almost three and a half years. Ukraine's European allies are concerned that Trump and Putin will agree that the country must cede territory to Russia without Ukraine's say in the matter.
Trump assured journalists on Air Force One that he would not reach an agreement with Putin without Ukraine. He would discuss the “exchange” of territories, but would not make any decisions. “I have to let Ukraine make the decision. And I think they will make a reasonable decision. But I'm not here to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine,” Trump said. His role is to bring Putin to the negotiating table, he said.
Trump also emphasised cooperation with European leaders. He called Putin a “smart guy” — but said that he is too. “There is respect on both sides,” Trump added.
According to him, Putin has several Russian businesspeople in his entourage and is very interested in cooperation with the US. But if Putin does not want peace with Ukraine, the American president is threatening economic sanctions against Moscow.
US president Donald Trump boarding Air Force One © PHOTO ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP
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