Washington, United States – US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he believes his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will conclude an agreement.
He added that the threat of sanctions on Russia likely played a role in Moscow’s bid to hold a meeting.
Trump is scheduled to meet with Putin in Alaska tomorrow, Friday.
“I think now he (Putin) is convinced he’s going to make a deal,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. I think he will, and we will find out.”
Putin said earlier today that the United States was making “sincere efforts” to end the war in Ukraine.
He suggested that Moscow and Washington could agree on a nuclear weapons deal. This would be part of broader measures to promote peace.
Trump also stated during the interview that he was considering three locations for a follow-up meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, he indicated that a second meeting was not guaranteed.
“Depending on what happens in my meeting (the first with Putin in Alaska), I will contact President Zelensky. We will bring him wherever we meet,” he said.
He explained: “The second meeting will be very important. This is because it will be the meeting during which they conclude an agreement”.
“I don’t want to use the phrase ‘sharing’ things,” Trump added. But you know, to some extent, that’s not a bad term.”
In contrast, Trump determined that there was a 25 percent chance that the Alaska summit would fail.
He added, “This meeting establishes the second meeting. However, there is a 25 percent chance that this meeting will not be successful”.
