Saturday, March 29, 2025
Putin Ready for Ukraine Peace Deal, Says Trump Ahead of Alaska Meeting
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is “ready to make a deal” to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking ahead of their upcoming meeting in Alaska, Trump described the talks as the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Putin’s readiness: Trump claimed Putin’s trip to Alaska signaled his willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict. He added that the outcome of the talks would become clear “very quickly” once the meeting begins.
Possible three-way summit: Trump stressed he would not finalize any agreement with Putin alone. His goal, he said, was to hold a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Three potential locations are under consideration, including the possibility of remaining in Alaska.
Tough stance: The U.S. leader warned that Russia would face “very serious consequences” if Putin refused to agree to a ceasefire. Trump said he was not intimidated by the Russian leader and expected to know “within the first few minutes” whether the talks were heading toward success or failure.
Zelensky’s reaction: Ukraine’s president criticized being excluded from the Alaska summit and rejected Trump’s earlier suggestions about ceding territory to Russia. Zelensky maintained that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were non-negotiable.
At the start of his second term, Trump took a notably softer line toward Putin. However, his tone has hardened in recent months after the Russian leader dismissed Trump’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. Trump has since expressed frustration with Putin, accusing him of prolonging the war.
