Trump, Putin meet in Alaska
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The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Evening Report newsletter Subscribe *{box-sizing:border-box}body{margin:0;padding:0}a[x-apple-data-detectors]{color:inherit!important;text-decoration:inherit!important}#MessageViewBody a{color:inherit;text-decoration:none}p{line-height:inherit}.desktop_hide,.desktop_hide table{mso-hide:all;display:none;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}.image_block img div{display:none}sub,sup{font-size:75%;line-height:0} @media (max-width:620px){.image_block div.fullWidth{max-width:100%!important}.mobile_hide,.row .side{display:none}.row-content{width:100%!important}.stack .column{width:100%;display:block}.mobile_hide{min-height:0;max-height:0;max-width:0;overflow:hidden;font-size:0}.desktop_hide,.desktop_hide table{display:table!important;max-height:none!important}} 🗺️ Plus: Texas redistricting fight nears conclusion{beacon}President Trump made new demands for peace between Russia and Ukraine as he touched down in Alaska at 2:20 p.m. Eastern on Friday for a historic summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said he’s prepared to walk away from the negotiating table if he doesn’t believe Putin is open to a deal that would end the three-year war.
“I think it’s going to work out very well — and if it doesn’t, I’m going to head back home real fast,” Trump told Fox News anchor Bret Baier aboard Air Force One.
“If it doesn’t, you walk?” Baier asked.
“I would walk, yeah,” Trump said
The president also drew a red line with Putin, who brought along several businesspeople on the trip.
“They’re not doing business until the war is settled,” Trump said.
And Trump put European leaders at ease, announcing that he has no intention of discussing potential concessions on Ukraine’s behalf.
“I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine,” Trump said.
Over the course of the trip from Washington to Anchorage, the previously planned one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin expanded and will now be a three-on-three meeting. Trump will be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump arrived with a big crew that includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, chief of staff Susie Wiles, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and others.
Putin's plane landed a half-hour after Trump's. The Russian president endeavored on his own side quests while making the trip from Moscow to Anchorage.
Putin participated in a wreath-laying ceremony in Eastern Russia at a monument dedicated to Soviet and American pilots who cooperated during World War II. He also met with local hockey players.
Trump and Putin deplaned at 3:08 p.m. Eastern time. They walked down the red carpets between fighter jets to shake hands.
Trump arrived first, clapping as Putin approached.
The leaders exchanged greetings, then walked to a riser, as a military fly-over was conducted overhead. They shook hands again and stepped off the riser.
They rode together in the Beast — the presidential limo — to the summit location.
A Kremlin spokesman said the summit, which will include an expanded bilateral meeting with additional Russian and American officials, could last six to seven hours.
Trump and Putin are expected to conduct a press conference afterwards.
BACK IN KYIV...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is the odd man out on Friday, having not been invited to the bilateral summit.
Trump has said he hopes a trilateral meeting between himself, Putin and Zelensky will come together quickly after Friday’s meeting.
Back in Kyiv, Zelensky told a small group of reporters, including NewsNation’s Robert Sherman, that the summit will benefit Putin more than anyone, arguing that the Russian leader will be bolstered at home for appearing on equal footing with the U.S. president.
“What [Putin] is seeking frankly, is photographs,” Zelensky said. “He needs a photo from a meeting with President Trump.”
“First, he will be meeting on U.S. soil, which I believe is his personal victory,” Zelensky added. “Second, he is coming out of isolation … third, with this meeting, he has somehow postponed the sanctions policy. President Trump has serious sanctions. We will see what happens next.”
Ukraine on Thursday launched drone attacks on cities in southern Russia, killing one person and injuring at least 16 more.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused Zelensky of seeking to “sabotage” the peace talks with the military offensive.
“Zelensky doesn’t want peace and obviously is trying to sabotage President Trump’s heroic efforts to end the war in Ukraine,” Greene posted on X.
Russian forces have been carrying out their own airstrikes across Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions.
“There is not only no order but also no signals from Moscow about preparing to end this war,” Zelensky said. “On the day of negotiations, they are also killing. And that says a lot."
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