White House says Trump-Putin meeting is a ‘listening exercise’
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US President Donald Trump will meet one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug 15 in Anchorage, Alaska.
PHOTO: EPA
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- Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska on Aug 15, in what the White House is calling "a listening exercise" for Trump regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Trump believes both sides must cede land for peace, a proposal Zelensky rejects, citing Ukraine's constitution and need for involvement in talks.
- Trump may visit Russia in the future and has suggested a potential future meeting between Putin and Zelensky, though no immediate plans exist.
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WASHINGTON – The Aug 15 Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin “is a listening exercise for the President”, the White House said on Aug 12, tempering expectations for a quick Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal.
“Only one party that’s involved in this war is going to be present, and so this is for the President to go and to get, again, a more firm and better understanding of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end,” said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
“This is a listening exercise for the President.”
Mr Trump will meet one-on-one with Mr Putin during the talks, which will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, the White House said.
He may, in the future, also visit Russia.
“Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia,” said Ms Leavitt.
Key issues remain ahead of the talks. Mr Trump has said the two sides will need to cede land to end the bloody 3½-year-old conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country’s Constitution prohibits such a deal and that no arrangements can be made without Ukraine’s participation in talks.
The White House declined to comment on conversations taking place prior to the Putin meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky.
Mr Trump said on Aug 11 that Mr Zelensky may be invited to a future meeting with Mr Putin.
Ms Leavitt said: “The President has deep respect for all parties that are involved in this conflict and is trying to bring this conflict to an end.”
