U.S. President Donald Trump said that his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday will be to "feel out" the leader as pressure mounts for Russia and Ukraine to make a peace deal.

Washington

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

President Trump is scheduled to hold a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. According to White House statements, the purpose of the meeting is not to negotiate a peace agreement regarding the conflict in Ukraine, but rather for Trump to personally communicate the need for Russia to withdraw from the war. Trump has emphasized the value of in-person discussions and believes such meetings can lead to meaningful progress.

The decision to meet has drawn criticism, with some arguing that the meeting grants Putin credibility without requiring concessions. However, Trump maintains that his approach is aimed at encouraging an end to the conflict, while ultimately leaving the responsibility for peace negotiations to the leaders of Russia and Ukraine.

Trump to meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday

New senior White House correspondent Weijia Zhang joins us now with more on President Trump's upcoming meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Good morning, Weijia. You know, the president right now is being criticized for seemingly awarding Russia's president with a one-on-one despite the lack of a solid ceasefire plan with Ukraine. So what is the plan for this meeting? Well, President Trump made a rare appearance, Errol, yesterday in the White House press briefing room. And he basically said this is not a meeting to broker a peace deal. He said that's not his place. And ultimately, it will be up to Zelensky and Putin to do that. But he said he wants to feel out the Russian leader. That's a phrase that he used, and he wants to tell him in person that he's got to get out of the war. And this is a president who has always valued the in-person meeting over phone calls, even though he also says, you know, that he'll pick up the phone and talk to anybody. He really thinks that whenever you get inside of a room, that's when real progress can be made. And that's whether, you know, it comes to peace deals, trade deals, any type of business transaction. And so that's why he wants to get in front of Putin. And actually, the NATO secretary general said the same thing, that basically only Trump can gauge whether Putin is serious, whether he really does want to negotiate. So that is the purpose of this meeting. But you're right, many critics point to the fact that, you know, Putin didn't give up any concessions for this meeting. And the meeting alone is a victory for him, because it establishes credibility with the president of the United States. But, you know, Trump doesn't see it that way. You know, he says he'll do anything to end the war, but ultimately, it will be up to these two leaders, Errol, to find an off-ramp. And a meeting on U.S. soil, no less. Quite remarkable. Weijia, thank you very much.

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Ukraine Invasion