ANCHORAGE, Alaska: US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met face-to-face for nearly three hours over Moscow’s battle in Ukraine on Friday, the Kremlin mentioned, as the 2 world leaders sought an finish to the deadliest battle in Europe in 80 years.
There was no rapid phrase on whether or not the talks had produced any progress towards a ceasefire within the battle, a purpose that Trump had set on the outset. The pair have been set to collectively converse to reporters shortly.
Trump and Putin, together with prime foreign-policy aides, conferred in a room at an Air Drive base in Anchorage, Alaska of their first assembly since 2019. A blue backdrop behind them had the phrases “Pursuing Peace” printed on it.
Trump’s publicly said goal for the talks was to safe a halt to the preventing and a dedication by Putin to fulfill swiftly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to barter an finish to the battle, which started when Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022.
Earlier within the week, Trump mentioned he would know if Putin was critical about peace inside minutes of seeing him. He additionally threatened to stroll out of the talks in the event that they have been unproductive.
Zelenskyy, who was not invited to the summit, and his European allies concern Trump would possibly promote out Ukraine by primarily freezing the battle with Russia and recognising – if solely informally – Russian management over one-fifth of Ukraine.
Trump sought to assuage such issues as he boarded Air Drive One, saying he would let Ukraine determine on any doable territorial swaps. “I am not right here to barter for Ukraine, I am right here to get them at a desk,” he mentioned.
Requested what would make the assembly a hit, he advised reporters: “I wish to see a ceasefire quickly … I am not going to be joyful if it is not at present … I would like the killing to cease.”
As soon as on the bottom in Alaska, Trump greeted Putin on a purple carpet on the bottom’s tarmac. The 2 shook arms warmly and touched one another on the arm earlier than using in Trump’s limo to the summit web site close by.
There, the 2 presidents sat with their respective delegations of their first assembly since 2019. A blue backdrop behind them had the phrases “Pursuing Peace” printed on it.
The talks additionally included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s particular envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, Russian overseas coverage aide Yury Ushakov and International Minister Sergei Lavrov.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth and chief of workers Susie Wiles can even be part of Trump and the Russian delegation at a subsequent working lunch assembly, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned.
Trump hopes a truce within the three-and-a-half-year-old battle that Putin began will deliver peace to the area in addition to bolster his credentials as a worldwide peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.
