‘Goal Is to Get Putin to Talks Table, Not Negotiate for Ukraine’: Trump on Alaska Meet
US President Donald Trump on Friday clarified his primary objective for the high-stakes summit in Alaska, stating his goal is to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, not to strike a deal on behalf of Ukraine. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Anchorage, Trump sought to manage expectations and define his role as a facilitator aimed at ending the war.
“I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I’m not doing this for my health… I’d like to focus on our country, but I’m doing this to save a lot of lives,” he stated, emphasizing the humanitarian urgency of the conflict. While he did not detail any specific proposals, Trump reiterated his warning of “very severe” consequences for Moscow if the talks fail to yield progress.
The US President expressed a degree of optimism about the meeting, citing Russia’s economic situation and what he described as mutual respect between himself and Putin. “He’s a smart guy, been doing it for a long time but so have I… we get along, there’s a good respect level on both sides, and I think, you know, something’s going to come of it,” Trump remarked.
He also noted positively that Putin is bringing Russian business leaders to the summit, seeing it as a sign of genuine engagement. However, he was firm that any potential business deals are off the table until the conflict is resolved. “They’re not doing business until we get the war solved,” he added.
The summit in Alaska marks the first time Putin has set foot on Western soil since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, a war that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. The meeting, which was initiated at Putin’s suggestion, comes at a critical time, with Russian forces having recently made significant advances on the battlefield.
