Trump, according to Rubio, does not view the Alaska meeting as a concession to Putin.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet on August 15, 2022, in Alaska, as announced by Trump on August 8. The purpose of this in-person meeting, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is to discuss Ukraine and related issues with the goal of reaching some form of agreement or progress.
Rubio described the meeting as exploratory in nature, emphasizing that Trump, known for his reputation as an "exceptional deal-maker" and "incredible negotiator", aims to form his own assessment of the situation by looking "into this person's eyes". The U.S. President believes that the negotiations will be happening face-to-face.
However, the meeting is expected to be challenging, as Putin has a significant stake in the ongoing conflict, according to Rubio. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that the planned meeting is not a victory for the Kremlin.
The meeting is taking place amidst concerns about potential Russian aggression against Ukraine, NATO, and Europe. Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief, stated that any agreement between the U.S. and Russia must involve Ukraine and the EU, and it should not serve as a stepping stone for further Russian aggression.
Rubio acknowledged that the negotiations will be difficult due to Putin's importance in the war. He noted that the meeting will be at the beginning to find out if there's even a chance of success or not. Trump expects his meeting with Putin to be "good", but does not rule out negative outcomes.
The meeting between the two leaders is scheduled for Friday in Alaska, and further consultations with NATO allies and Ukrainian leadership are expected before any deal would be finalized. The Trump administration delegation, including Rubio, will be involved in these discussions and negotiations, aiming to try to resolve the conflict and improve relations.
[1] The Washington Post
[2] CNN
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