Trump, en route to Alaska, hints at tougher line with Putin on Ukraine
Anchorage – President Trump is on the way to Alaska for a high challenges summit with Vladimir Putin, indicating that he will take a more difficult line with the Russian chief for a ceasefire in Ukraine after three brutal years of war.
Addressing journalists on the Air Force One, Trump said Putin would be confronted with “economically serious” consequences if the anchorage negotiations do not manage to progress towards peace today. He said that only Ukraine could decide to sell the territory to Moscow. And he expressed his support for American security guarantees for Ukraine in any future peace agreement, as long as they are not membership of NATO for the besieged nation.
“Yes, it would be very serious,” said Trump. “Very severe.”
Travel by Moscow, Putin brings several Russian business leaders, according to the Kremlin, a sign that he hopes to start discussions on normalization of relations with Washington. But Trump said that he would not discuss commercial opportunities before setting war.
It is a position that will relieve the allies in Europe who hoped that Trump would approach Putin with a firm hand, after months of pressure on the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to prepare to make concessions in Moscow.
Zelensky was not invited to negotiations in Alaska. But Trump said he hoped that his meeting on Friday would lead to direct “very soon” talks.
Trump had declared in recent days that a peace agreement would include “exchange” of land, a perspective refused to kyiv. The Ukrainian Constitution prohibits territorial concessions without the support of a public referendum.
“They will be discussed, but I have to let Ukraine make this decision,” said the president about land exchanges. “I am not here to negotiate Ukraine. I’m here to bring them to the table. “
Trump will welcome Putin at the Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage later Friday, the first meeting between an American and Russian president since 2021.
Managers of the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Putin war objectives remain “unchanged”. And an aggressive Russian advance along the front lines this week provided evidence to military analysts that Moscow does not intend to implement a cease-fire.
The two leaders should greet themselves on the tarmac before meeting in private. Subsequently, they will have an extended lunch with their aids, followed by a press conference, according to the White House.
