Donald Trump will no longer be meeting Vladimir Putin one-on-one to discuss a possible end to the Russia-Ukraine War on Friday, the White House revealed on Friday
Donald Trump has canceled his one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin to discuss a potential resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the White House announced on Friday.
Instead, Trump will be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for a three-on-three meeting with Russian officials.
Air Force One touched down in Alaska around 10:20 a. m. local time, according to the White House.
The bilateral meeting/lunch will also include other American officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Trump informed reporters that the Russian delegation includes business people and he would be open to discussing business with Russia “if we make progress.”
The White House further stated that Trump views Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine as Putin’s attempt at negotiation, believing a better deal could be reached “if they can continue the killing.
“I think they’re trying to negotiate. He’s trying to set a stage. I think in his mind, that helps him make a better deal. It actually hurts him. But in his mind that helps him make a better deal if they can continue the killing,” Trump said.
“Maybe it’s a part of the world, maybe it’s just his fabric, his genes, his genetics. But he thinks that makes him, gives him strength in negotiating. I think it hurts him. But I’ll be talking to him about it,” he added.
Trump clarified that any consequences for Russia would be “economically severe.”
When asked what would make the meeting a success, Trump said that he doesn’t know, as “nothing is set in stone”.
“I can’t tell you that. I don’t know. There’s nothing set in stone. I want certain things. I want to see a ceasefire. This has not to do with Europe. Europe’s not telling me what to do, but they’re going to be involved in the process obviously, as well as Zelensky,” Trump said.
“But I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today. Everyone said it can’t be today, but I’m just saying, I want the killing to stop,” he continued.
Trump then explained that America is “making money” from the conflict as the nations are using “our weapons,” leaving America to cash “big, beautiful checks.
“I’m in this to stop the killing. You know, we’re not putting up any money. We’re making money. They’re buying our weapons, sending them to NATO, and NATO’s sending us big, beautiful checks.
“But I don’t care about that…What I do care about is they lost last week 7,011 people. Almost all soldiers,” he added.
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