Prior to his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, former US President Donald Trump conveyed his belief that Putin is ready for peace. The summit is set to take place on August 15 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Trump told reporters, “I think President Putin will make peace and President Zelensky will make peace.” When asked about potential incentives, such as offering Putin access to rare minerals, to end the conflict, Trump responded, “We’re going to see what happens with our meeting. We have a big meeting. It’s going to be, I think, very important for Russia, and it’s going to be very important for us and important for us only that we’re going to save a lot of lives.” He further stated, “But what I’m really doing this for is to save thousands of soldiers a week.” Trump also revealed plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the Alaska talks, possibly including European leaders. He characterized this subsequent meeting as potentially even more crucial than the initial one. “We have a meeting with President Putin tomorrow. I think it’s gonna be a good meeting, but the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we’re having. We’re gonna have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelenskyy, me, and maybe we’ll bring some of the European leaders along, maybe not,” he said. Expressing his perspective on the conflict, Trump referred to it as “Biden’s war,” asserting that it would not have occurred under his presidency. He aims to find a resolution to the conflict, aiming to cease the ongoing violence. Trump also expressed optimism about the possibility of normalizing trade between the two countries. He also expects to know if a deal can be made in the first two minutes of his meeting with Putin.
