U.S. President refers to the forthcoming encounter with Putin in Alaska as a "special, isolated gathering"
In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Anchorage, Alaska, with the primary focus on exploring potential deals to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This was their first face-to-face meeting since Trump's return to the White House.
The location of the meeting was chosen for its symbolic proximity, as the two countries are only about 4 kilometers apart across the Bering Strait. President Putin described the meeting as held in a "constructive atmosphere of mutual respect," emphasizing the close geographical proximity and neighborly ties between the U.S. and Russia.
Trump characterized the gathering as a "probe meeting," indicating it was exploratory, with the intention to advance some agreements but with outstanding points remaining, particularly regarding Ukraine. He also mentioned plans to continue discussions with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting possible future meetings to address the conflict further.
During the meeting, Trump expressed his displeasure with Zelensky's stance on not ceding territory, stating that it has "a little bothered" him. However, he also mentioned that he would be present if Zelensky and Putin needed him in a future meeting.
Trump hinted at a potential three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky, and he suggested that he might tell Zelensky "Good luck, keep fighting" or "We can make a deal" during their potential meeting. He also stated that he would present any potential deals from the meeting to the leaders of the EU and NATO, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out ceding territory to Russia in exchange for an end to the fighting. Despite the lack of an immediate ceasefire agreement, both leaders described the talks as constructive and substantive, indicating progress on some points while others remain unresolved.
Putin's remarks focused on the personal goodwill and the historical ties between the U.S. and Russia rather than delving deeply into Ukraine during the post-meeting period. The meeting was notable for its private nature, with no press questions taken, underscoring the sensitivity of the discussions.
This meeting marks a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, with both leaders expressing a willingness to continue dialogue and find a peaceful solution.
[1] CNN - Trump and Putin meet in Alaska [2] BBC News - Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska [3] The New York Times - Trump-Putin Meeting [4] The Washington Post - Trump-Putin Meeting
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