The guys have finished their talks…..
Two presidents of rival countries emerged from their airplanes into a damp Alaskan afternoon on Friday, walking toward a red carpet that cut its way through the steel-colored expanse of a military base.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, setting foot in the United States for the first time in a decade, had just been escorted into the country by a quartet of American fighter jets. He strode toward Mr. Trump, who was waiting at the edge of the carpet. Mr. Trump, a born producer, seemed to relish the spectacle of the moment, all of the attention it was drawing.
And so he clapped for his guest — once, twice, a third time — before Mr. Putin reached him.
This friendly greeting on the red carpet answered no questions about whether the two of them could reach a peace deal to end the Russian war with Ukraine — not that a deal could be reached without Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, who was not invited and whose country was being attacked by Russian forces even as Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin prepared to speak.
But it revealed just how much stake Mr. Trump had placed in a greeting he felt worthy of Mr. Putin, a leader whom most of the West has shunned for an invasion that has killed hundreds of thousands of people….
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Reporters began to shout. One clear, loud question rose above the din.
“President Putin, will you stop killing civilians?” a journalist with ABC News called out. Not the kind of question Mr. Putin, who has eliminated press protections in his country, is used to hearing. He made a face somewhere between a groan and a smirk, and gestured to his ear, as if to pantomime difficulty hearing. (Mr. Putin speaks English.)
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U.S. President Donald Trump said “some great progress” was made during high-stakes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine, but neither leader offered specific details on the trajectory of the war.
Trump said “many points were agreed to,” with just a “very few” remaining, and told reporters he will speak with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy soon. Putin said the two leaders had reached an “understanding,” but neither offered further details on Ukraine’s future.
Trump’s allies have cast the U.S. president as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the slaughter to a close. Trump has threatened “very severe consequences” if Putin does not agree to stop the war after the summit.
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Putin reiterated points made since early on in the war
Putin repeated Moscow’s long-held position that it is “sincerely interested in putting an end” to the war in Ukraine, but for that to happen, “all the root causes of the crisis … must be eliminated.”
“All of Russia’s legitimate concerns must be taken into account, and a fair balance in the security sphere in Europe and the world as a whole must be restored,” Putin said.
He added that he agrees with Trump on ensuring Ukraine’s security and said Moscow was “ready to work on this,” without offering details.
“I would like to hope that the understanding we have reached will allow us to get closer to that goal and open the way to peace in Ukraine,” Putin said, without elaborating on what the understanding was.
“We hope that Kyiv and the European capitals will perceive all of this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles or attempt to disrupt the nascent progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigue,” the Russia leader added.
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Trump says he will fill Zelenskyy in on Putin meeting
The U.S. president also said he would call European and NATO leaders to give them updates from his meeting with Putin.
Trump said “some great progress” was made in his bilateral meeting with the Russian president, saying “many points were agreed to,” with just a “very few” remaining.
Zelenskyy was not invited to the Alaska summit….
Note…
Trump & Co. seemed to be so uconfident that they had to have a B-1 Bomber and F-22 Fighter sitting on the ramp for Trump to walk past with Putin…..
Top Image…NY Post via Reuters
Bottom image…NY Post Reuters…Trump (right) and Putin (left) didn’t publicly mention any details of a preliminary “understanding” toward ending the long-running war, with the US leader saying he would be calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European allies to discuss negotiations.
It Could Have Been an Email
Trump and Putin’s summit ends with a vague “agreement” but few details. Next stop: Moscow? We cover things you may have missed and what this meeting means for the future. Plus the News Not Noise Quiz.