Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed on Friday a strong desire for Russia and the United States to “turn the page to go back to cooperation,” amid mounting international pressure to resolve the war in Ukraine.
The sentiment came as Putin and President Donald Trump concluded nearly three hours of talks in Alaska, a meeting Putin characterized as productive. He stated that “the agreement that
the path towards peace in Ukraine.”
During a news conference following their discussions, neither leader divulged specifics of their talks or any potential agreement. Putin also took a jab at former President Joe Biden, though without naming him. He suggested that had Trump been in office when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict would have been averted.
“Today, when President Trump is saying that if he was the president back then, there will be no war … I’m quite sure that it would indeed be so. I can confirm that,” Putin said. He added, “I think that, me and President Trump have built a very good, business-like and trustworthy contact, and have every reason to believe that moving down this path we can come, and the sooner the better, to the end of the conflict in Ukraine.”
The summit, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a U.S. military installation in Anchorage, Alaska, marked the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin as Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year. The leaders did not field questions from reporters at the event.
Putin hinted at the possibility of a future meeting, suggesting moscow as the next venue. Trump responded,”I’ll get a little heat on that one,but I could see it possibly happening.”
