Putin says his meeting with Trump "brings us closer to necessary decisions"
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has said that his talks with US President Donald Trump in Alaska "bring us closer to the necessary decisions". Putin claimed that Russia wants a swift end to the hostilities, but he is insisting on addressing what he calls the "root causes" of the war.
Source: Putin at a briefing following his trip to the US, an excerpt from which has been released by the Kremlin press service
Details: Putin described the visit to Alaska as "timely and very useful".
He said he and Trump had discussed "almost all areas" of bilateral relations, but above all, the "possible resolution of the Ukrainian crisis [Russia’s war against Ukraine – ed.] on a just basis".
According to Putin, the meeting touched upon "the genesis, the causes of this crisis, and it is the eradication of these root causes that must serve as the foundation of a settlement".
The Kremlin ruler claimed that he had set out his position to Trump "calmly and in detail". He also insisted that Russia supposedly wants a rapid end to the hostilities.
"We naturally respect the position of the US administration, which sees the need for the swiftest possible end to the hostilities. We also would like to see this, and we hope to move towards resolving all issues through peaceful means," he said.
Putin added that in his view, the talks with Trump will bring the sides "closer to the necessary decisions".
Background:
- The Trump-Putin meeting ended with no agreements reached and no ceasefire in Ukraine announced, despite both leaders claiming "great progress" was made.
- After the Alaska talks, Trump said he had reached an agreement with Putin on a territory exchange and that "President Zelenskyy has to agree".
- Trump is reported to have told Ukraine and European leaders that Putin wants to immediately discuss the terms of ending the war, not just a pause in the hostilities. Trump believes this would be better.
- On 16 August, Trump spoke first with Zelenskyy and then European leaders after his talks with Putin. Zelenskyy announced that he will meet Trump in Washington on 18 August.
- According to Bloomberg, Trump has informed European leaders and Zelenskyy that Putin is still demanding that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the entire territory of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. In return, Russia will give up its claims to the areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts that it does not currently control, effectively freezing the front line.
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