GOP senators warn proposed Republican megabill might do more 'damage' than good
House Republicans are reportedly proposing another megabill now that Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' was signed into law — but some members of the GOP aren't thrilled about the idea.
Last month, Trump's infamous 'big, beautiful bill' was signed into law. Now, Speaker Mike Johnson and other Senate leaders are reportedly working on another megabill that both parties will pass.
A White House official reportedly told Politico that a second 'filibuster-skirting reconciliation bill' has been planned during the summer recess season. The official added that the Republican Study Committee allegedly held 'Reconciliation 2.0' group meetings during the Senate's break to think of ideas for the new megabill.
According to the outlet, most senators are wary about the bill, still tired from passing the 'big, beautiful bill " in July, and unsure what the next policy package could hold exactly.
'You have to have a reason to do it,' said Sen. Mike Rounds. 'It's not easy to do, so you have to have a purpose for doing it in the first place.'
Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo stated he'd consider nearly 200 tax proposals from the Senate that were not included in the first bill. 'Without the pressure, I don't see how you get it done,' one Republican senator told Politico about the possible second package.
'I don't think I see what the pressure is here,' they added. Three sources told the outlet that the White House has not detailed to Republicans the logistics of what it's looking for in the bill. The Irish Star also reached out to the White House for comment.
Senators Roger Wicker and Lindsey Graham, the chairs of the Armed Services and Budget committees, said they haven't heard anything from the White House regarding any fall plans or policies. Ted Cruz, the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, also said he hadn't heard anything from the White House ahead of the fall season.
The outlet detailed that Sen. Ron Johnson is leading the push for new legislation, aiming to make more budget cuts after the 'big, beautiful bill.' Earlier this summer, Johnson said. 'Leadership is telling us we'll do one or two more reconciliations in this Congress, so the clock's ticking.'
One of the three sources told the outlet that the pressure for a new package is coming from the House rather than the Trump administration, as Budget Chair Jodey Arrington reportedly told lawmakers to try to 'rework' policy cuts into the new bill from the 'big, beautiful bill'.
'My sense is that there's more enthusiasm in the House than in the Senate, and that makes sense,' said Sen. Jerry Moran. 'They can do things with 51 votes anyway; most of what we have to do requires 60. And that means that senators, if you have a desire to actually legislate, need to find ways to legislate, and reconciliation is damaging to that relationship."
The outlet added that the Senate is "skeptical" about how this new potential megabill will be successfully created and passed.
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Lip reader reveals Putin's pledge to Trump and Don's advice after leaders landed in Alaska for showdown
A LIP reader has revealed Vladimir Putin's pledge to Donald Trump as the two leaders met in Alaska. The US President greeted his Russian counterpart on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Air Base on Friday. 7 Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet on the tarmac in Alaska 7 Trump and Putin spoke as they walked, which microphones couldn't hear 7 The pair were polite to each other and said they wanted to end the war, according to one expert The pair went on to address the world in a brief press conference and negotiate with their teams in private, but they also shared words in front of cameras that couldn't be heard. That hidden speech can tell us a lot about their pair's relationship and hint at what could be happening behind closed doors. Forensic lipreader Nicola Hickling has now revealed what the powerful men said when they greeted each other airport. The world's eyes were on the moment when Putin walked towards Trump to shake hands. Putin looked relaxed as he walked down a red carpet towards Trump - giving the US leader a thumbs-up before greeting him with a warm handshake. Trump begins clapping as Putin approaches and the American says: 'Finally,' according to Hickling. Hickling then said that as the pair shook hands Trump added: 'You made it, fantastic to see you and appreciated." The pair then appear to begin talking about Ukraine and the bringing the fighting to an end with a ceasefire. Putin responds in English, saying: 'Thank you — and you." He also makes a pledge to Trump: "I am here to help you.' Trump Putin meeting erupts into CHAOS as press bombard Putin with questions Trump replies: 'I'll help you.' Pointing towards Trump, Putin says: 'All they need is to ask.' Trump answers simply: 'Okay.' Putin continues: 'I will bring it to a rest.' 7 Microphones couldn't listen into the pair as they spoke at the airport 7 Putin told Trump Trump responds: 'I hope it does.' Turning towards the vehicle, Hickling said Trump smiles and says: 'Come on, let's get straight into the vehicle. We need to move forward, both giving it attention. I know this is serious, it's quite long. What a journey it is.' Trump salutes and says: 'Thank you.' On the podium, Trump says: 'Thank you. Let's shake hands — it gives a good impression.' Putin nods in agreement, shakes his hand, and says: 'Thank you.' The pair then shared a moment alone in Trump's presidential limo - known as The Beast - which drove them to the summit venue. They were then next seen when they posed for photos in front of the press to record the historic moment. 7 Putin shouted at the press when the photocall descended into chaos 7 Vlad said to a reporter that they were 'ignorant', according to Hickling But the photocall descended into chaos when the journalists started shouting at Trump and the tyrant - who doesn't face that sort of opposition in Russia. Hickling said that Trump noticed Putin wasn't happy with a question or remark made. The American leans in to his aide, according to the lipreader, and whispers: 'I'm uncomfortable, we need to move them quickly.' Putin then makes a face after being on the receiving end of the aggressive questioning. Hickling said the Russian tells a reporter: 'You is ignorant.' Then, as he cups his hands to his mouth to shout above the chaos, he says again: 'You are ignorant.' After nearly three hours of talks in Alaska, the US president said the pair "agreed on some big points" they said in a brief press conferece. There was a lot of flattery between the pair as they spoke in front of the world. Hickling's analysis of the chumminess between the pair out of range of the microphones suggests that there could possibly be a real relationship between the pair, despite the geopolitical differences.
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Trump says 'great progress' made in meeting with Putin
US President Donald Trump said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not reach an agreement to resolve Russia's war in Ukraine after a nearly three-hour summit in Alaska, though he characterised the meeting as "very productive." "There were many, many points that we agreed on," Mr Trump said at a joint press conference with Mr Putin. "I would say a couple of big ones that we haven't quite got there, but we've made some headway. So there's no deal until there's a deal," he added. Mr Trump and Mr Putin each spoke for a few minutes to reporters and took no questions. It was not clear whether the talks had produced meaningful steps toward a ceasefire in the deadliest conflict in Europe in 80 years, a goal that Mr Trump had set at the outset. In brief remarks, Mr Putin said he expected Ukraine and its European allies to accept the results of the US-Russia negotiation, warning them not to "torpedo" the progress toward a resolution. Mr Trump and Mr Putin, along with top foreign-policy aides, conferred in a room at an Air Force base in Anchorage, Alaska in their first meeting since 2019. A blue backdrop behind them had the words "Pursuing Peace" printed on it. Mr Trump's publicly stated aim for the talks was to secure a halt to the fighting and a commitment by Mr Putin to meet swiftly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate an end to the war, which began when Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022. Mr Zelensky, who was not invited to the summit, and his European allies had feared Mr Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising - if only informally - Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. Mr Trump sought to assuage such concerns as he boarded Air Force One, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial concessions. "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I'm not going to be happy if it's not today. I want the killing to stop." Mr Zelensky has ruled out formally handing Russia any territory and is also seeking a security guarantee backed by the United States. Mr Trump said he would call Mr Zelensky and NATO leaders to update them on the talks with Mr Putin. Rolling out the red carpet Once on the ground in Alaska, Mr Trump greeted Mr Putin on a red carpet on the base's tarmac. The two shook hands warmly before riding in Mr Trump's limo to the summit site nearby. Mr Trump hopes a truce in the three-and-a-half year war that Mr Putin started will bring peace to the region as well as bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Mr Putin, the summit is already a big win that he can portray as evidence that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Russia is retaking its rightful place at the high table of international diplomacy. Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the war. But thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority Ukrainian. A conservative estimate of dead and injured in the war in Ukraine - from both sides combined - totals 1.2 million people, Mr Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said three months ago. The meeting also included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Mr Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff; Russian foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov; and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Mr Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher task than he had expected. He said if yesterday's talks went well, quickly arranging a second, three-way summit with Mr Zelensky would be more important than his encounter with Mr Putin. Mr Zelensky said yesterday's summit should open the way for a "just peace" and three-way talks that included him, but added that Russia was continuing to wage war. A Russian ballistic missile earlier struck Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one person and wounding another. "It's time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America," Mr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘We didn't get there but there's a good chance to get there' – Trump-Putin meeting on peace deal for Ukraine ends
Live | Post-meeting press conference ends without leaders sharing details of their talks Zelensky, not invited, says Ukraine is 'counting on America' Trump says the killing must stop Donald Trump said he wanted to see a ceasefire "today" as he headed to Alaska on Friday for a summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin to help end the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two. Two leaders speak at press conference Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have appeared for a press conference after a meeting that stretched to two and a half hours that the world hopes will lead to peace in Ukraine. Putin speaks first and says that talks with Trump were constructive and that meeting in Alaska was logical given the two countries' shared history there. Putin says he agrees that Ukraine's security must be ensured. Trump says he has always had a good relationship with Putin. Says there are only one or two points left in negotiations. "We didn't get there but there's a good chance to get there," Trump says. Trump says 'some great progress' was made with Putin, he will speak with European leaders and Ukraine's Zelensky soon. Trump and Putin end the joint press conference without taking questions or sharing details of talks on Ukraine's future. Donald Trump greets Vladimir Putin with a handshake on a red carpet as both disembark their presidential planes and their summit gets underway. The leaders greeted each other on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where officials erected a special stage with a large 'Alaska 2025' sign flanked by parked fighter jets and red carpets. Uniformed military members stood at attention nearby. B-2s and F-22s — military aircraft designed to oppose Russia during the Cold War — were flying over to mark the moment. Mr Trump and Mr Putin have shared closely watched handshakes before, but their latest one will be as scrutinised as any, as will their body language or hints about how each is feeling. The pair are expected to hold a joint press conference. 40 minutes ago Meeting ends between Trump and Putin Talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have ended after more than two and a half hours. The leaders met in a three-on-three meeting along with top advisers a for high-stakes summit in Alaska that could determine the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and the fate of European security. The pair were expected to hold a joint press conference at the end of the summit. Today 05:43 PM Trump-Putin summit began with the cosy chat aboard 'The Beast' Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's summit in Alaska started with a very stage-managed opening - each leader descending from their respective airplanes, a visibly warm handshake on the tarmac. Pats on the arm. A military overfly. Then things veered off script. Putin slipped into the back of 'The Beast' alongside Trump, where they held their first substantial in-person conversation in six years alone inside the US president's armoured limousine - out of earshot of their aides, officials and the assembled world media. The short ride from the tarmac to the summit room at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a US military facility, took less than 10 minutes. But it gave both leaders the chance for the most private of conversations at a meeting the whole world is watching and studying intensely. It was unclear whether their ride together was planned, or a last-second improvisation by the pair. The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. On a podium moments earlier, Trump and Putin posed for photographs as reporters shouted out questions. One yelled whether Putin would "still be killing civilians" but the Russian president pointed to his ear and shook his head that he couldn't hear. Trump then called time and gestured for Putin to walk with him toward the vehicle. The Russian leader was captured by the cameras smiling through the window as it drew away. The Russian presidential limousine stood nearby. A blue-walled room was set up for the talks, adorned with American and Russian flags. Next to Trump were an interpreter, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US envoy Steve Witkoff. On Putin's side, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov. Shortly before 11:30 a.m. local time, the formal summit began. At stake: the future of Ukraine, peace in Europe, and the economies of Russia and its trading partners, under threat of increased US financial penalties if talks fail. In practice, the actual discussions had already started. Only Trump and Putin may know what was said. Bloomberg Today 05:32 PM Many are less than impressed with Trump rolling out the red carpet for the Russian president Today 05:25 PM Trump-Putin summit enters second hour Discussions between US president Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin stretched into a second hour at a summit in Alaska, as the US leader pushes to secure an end to the war in Ukraine. Reporters were ushered into a room at the start of the formal talks, but the two leaders did not take any questions. Alongside Trump were US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Putin was joined by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov. A prior summit between the two leaders in Helsinki in 2018 lasted roughly two hours. A joint press conference with Trump and Putin is planned to take place after their meeting. Today 04:47 PM Russian state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti reported Friday that President Vladimir Putin will use Aurus, a high-end Russian-made limousine, in Alaska. The agencies posted footage of a black limousine with Russian license plates and a small Russian flag attached to the hood driving around the tarmac. Putin brought Aurus on foreign trips before, and even gifted one to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last year. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov will join the Russian leader during his 'three-on-three' meeting with Trump, Rubio and Witkoff. Lavrov and Ushakov took part in the first in-person Russia-US talks in February this year. The Russian president hasn't been to the United States since a 2015 meeting at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on war crimes accusations for Putin in 2023. But the U.S. isn't a member of that global body, so officials are under no obligation to arrest him. Today 04:46 PM Never miss an opportunity While Trump was meeting privately with his top aides and Putin, his political team sent out a fundraising email that said, 'I'm meeting with Putin in Alaska!' 'It's a little chilly,' the fundraising pitch said. 'THIS MEETING IS VERY HIGH STAKES for the world.' It also said, 'No one in the world knows how to make deals like me!' and encouraged people to donate, suggesting they start with $10. Today 04:22 PM Morgan mistakenly reposts picture of Trump wearing kneepads ahead of Putin meeting Piers Morgan said he thought a picture of Donald Trump wearing kneepads was a real image of the president preparing for his 'high stakes' summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin, adding that he deleted the photo when he realised it was fake. The British tabloid host went on to claim that the satirical pic of Trump merely came across his social media feed and he immediately reposted it alongside well-wishes to Trump. Morgan faced a flood of mockery for posting the mocked-up photo of the president, something he acknowledged after deleting the image. Hours before Trump actually touched down in Alaska for the summit with Putin, which is part of an attempt by the president to secure a ceasefire agreement in the bloody Ukraine-Russia war, Morgan – who has enjoyed a long friendship with Trump – posted an altered picture of the president exiting Air Force One. Apparently believing this was a live photo and that the president had just landed in Anchorage, the Piers Morgan Uncensored host delivered a message of hope ahead of Trump's meeting with Putin. 'As President [Donald Trump] lands in Alaska, I wish him the very best of luck in trying to secure an end to the horrendous war in Ukraine,' Morgan tweeted. 'It's refreshing to see a U.S. president who genuinely prefers peace to war.' With the picture showing a waving Trump donning bright red kneepads, it didn't take long for Morgan to get inundated with comments from other users on X asking him if he was aware that he had shared a meme that was mocking the president. 'Did you intentionally post a photo with Trump wearing knee pads or are [you] just an idiot? Evil or idiot? Which is it?' one poster pressed Morgan, prompting the presenter to chalk it up his tweet to ignorance. 'No.. I didn't see the kneepads on that pic, so just deleted and reposted with a different pic!' Morgan replied. Today 03:40 PM Images from Alaska as Trump and Putin meet in person for the first time since a summit in Helsinki in 2018. The leaders have begun a meeting which is aimed at laying the groundwork for peace in Ukraine. Photos: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters. Today 03:34 PM Trump and Putin begin meeting in Alaska US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin began their meeting on Friday in Alaska. The two leaders made no statements and took no questions as they sat side by side. Today 03:20 PM US President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The two leaders are meeting for peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Today 02:45 PM Donald Trump arrives in Alaska ahead of his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The meeting is scheduled to take place in less than an hour. Today 02:29 PM One-on-one between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is altered last-minute What was promised as a one-on-one face to face meeting between Trump and Putin has now become a three v three meeting with Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff now joining Trump for the talks. It is unclear who will accompany Putin in the much-anticipated talks aimed at securing a path to peace in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today 01:59 PM Russian government plane lands in Alaska ahead of Putin-Trump talks A Russian government plane landed in Alaska ahead of the talks between the Russian and U.S. presidents on Friday, according to flight tracking system Flightradar24. It was not clear whether Vladimir Putin was on board. The plane departed from Russia's Far Eastern town Magadan, where the Russian president was earlier on Friday. Today 01:40 PM U.S. President Donald Trump waves while boarding Air Force One, as he departs for Alaska to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Today 01:33 PM Trump heads to Alaska summit with Putin, says he wants Ukraine ceasefire 'today' Donald Trump said he wanted to see a ceasefire "today" as he headed to Alaska on Friday for a summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin to help end the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising - if only informally - Russian control over one fifth of Ukraine. Trump sought to assuage such concerns as he boarded Air Force One, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today... I want the killing to stop." The U.S. and Russian presidents are due to meet at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska's largest city at around 11 a.m. (1900 GMT) for their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House. Trump hopes a truce in the 3-1/2-year-old war will bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Putin, the summit is already a big win that he can portray as evidence that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow is retaking its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the pre-summit mood as "combative" and said the two leaders would discuss not only Ukraine but the full spectrum of bilateral relations, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher task than he had expected. He said that if Friday's talks went well, quickly arranging a second, three-way summit with Zelenskiy would be even more important than his encounter with Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a three-way summit would be possible if the Alaska talks bore fruit, Interfax news agency reported. Peskov also said Friday's talks could last 6-7 hours and that aides would take part in what had been expected to be one-to-one meetings. Zelenskiy said the summit should open the way for a "just peace" and three-way talks that included him but added that Russia was continuing to wage war on Friday. A Russian ballistic missile earlier struck Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one person and wounding another. "It's time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. 'Smart guy' The Kremlin said Putin would arrive in Alaska at 11 a.m. (1900 GMT) and would be met at his plane by Trump. "He is a smart guy, been doing it for a long time but so have I... We get along, there's a good respect level on both sides," Trump said of Putin. He also welcomed Putin's decision to bring a lot of businesspeople with him to Alaska. "But they're not doing business until we get the war settled," he said, repeating a threat of "economically severe" consequences for Russia if the summit goes badly. One source acquainted with Kremlin thinking said there were signs that Moscow could be ready to strike a compromise on Ukraine given that Putin understood Russia's economic vulnerability and costs of continuing the war. Reuters has previously reported that Putin might be willing to freeze the conflict along the front lines, provided there was a legally binding pledge not to enlarge NATO eastwards and to lift some Western sanctions. NATO has said that Ukraine's future is in the alliance. Russia, whose war economy is showing signs of strain, is vulnerable to further U.S. sanctions - and Trump has threatened tariffs on buyers of Russian crude, primarily China and India. "For Putin, economic problems are secondary to goals, but he understands our vulnerability and costs," the Russian source said. Putin this week held out the prospect of something else he knows Trump wants - a new nuclear arms control accord to replace the last surviving one, which is due to expire next February. Common ground? The source familiar with Kremlin thinking said it looked as if the two sides had been able to find some common ground. "Apparently, some terms will be agreed upon... because Trump cannot be refused, and we are not in a position to refuse (due to sanctions pressure)," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity. Putin has said he is open to a full ceasefire but that issues of verification must first be sorted out. One compromise could be a truce in the air war. Zelenskiy has ruled out formally handing Moscow any territory and is also seeking a security guarantee backed by the United States. It is unclear how that guarantee could work. Ukrainians who spoke to Reuters in central Kyiv on Friday were not optimistic about the summit. "Nothing good will happen there, because war is war, it will not end. The territories - we're not going to give anything to anyone," said Tetiana Harkavenko, a 65-year-old cleaner. Today 01:32 PM Russia's President Vladimir Putin listens to explanations as he visits a plant of Omega-Sea enterprise in the far eastern port city of Magadan on the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, August 15, 2025. Sputnik/Alexey Nikolsky/Pool via REUTERS Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Magadan region's Governor Sergei Nosov as he visits the far eastern port city of Magadan on the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, August 16, 2025. Sputnik/Alexey Nikolsky/Pool Russia's President Vladimir Putin listens to explanations as he visits a plant of Omega-Sea enterprise in the far eastern port city of Magadan on the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, August 15, 2025. Sputnik/Alexey Nikolsky/Pool via REUTERS Load more Live Blog Software Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising - if only informally - Russian control over one fifth of Ukraine. Trump sought to assuage such concerns as he boarded Air Force One, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today... I want the killing to stop." The U.S. and Russian presidents are due to meet at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska's largest city at around 11 a.m. (1900 GMT) for their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House. Trump hopes a truce in the 3-1/2-year-old war will bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Putin, the summit is already a big win that he can portray as evidence that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow is retaking its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the pre-summit mood as "combative" and said the two leaders would discuss not only Ukraine but the full spectrum of bilateral relations, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher task than he had expected. He said that if Friday's talks went well, quickly arranging a second, three-way summit with Zelenskiy would be even more important than his encounter with Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a three-way summit would be possible if the Alaska talks bore fruit, Interfax news agency reported. Peskov also said Friday's talks could last 6-7 hours and that aides would take part in what had been expected to be one-to-one meetings. Zelenskiy said the summit should open the way for a "just peace" and three-way talks that included him but added that Russia was continuing to wage war on Friday. A Russian ballistic missile earlier struck Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one person and wounding another. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more "It's time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. The Kremlin said Putin would arrive in Alaska at 11 a.m. (1900 GMT) and would be met at his plane by Trump. "He is a smart guy, been doing it for a long time but so have I... We get along, there's a good respect level on both sides," Trump said of Putin. He also welcomed Putin's decision to bring a lot of businesspeople with him to Alaska. "But they're not doing business until we get the war settled," he said, repeating a threat of "economically severe" consequences for Russia if the summit goes badly. One source acquainted with Kremlin thinking said there were signs that Moscow could be ready to strike a compromise on Ukraine given that Putin understood Russia's economic vulnerability and costs of continuing the war. Reuters has previously reported that Putin might be willing to freeze the conflict along the front lines, provided there was a legally binding pledge not to enlarge NATO eastwards and to lift some Western sanctions. NATO has said that Ukraine's future is in the alliance. Russia, whose war economy is showing signs of strain, is vulnerable to further U.S. sanctions - and Trump has threatened tariffs on buyers of Russian crude, primarily China and India. "For Putin, economic problems are secondary to goals, but he understands our vulnerability and costs," the Russian source said. Putin this week held out the prospect of something else he knows Trump wants - a new nuclear arms control accord to replace the last surviving one, which is due to expire next February. The source familiar with Kremlin thinking said it looked as if the two sides had been able to find some common ground. "Apparently, some terms will be agreed upon... because Trump cannot be refused, and we are not in a position to refuse (due to sanctions pressure)," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity. Putin has said he is open to a full ceasefire but that issues of verification must first be sorted out. One compromise could be a truce in the air war. Zelenskiy has ruled out formally handing Moscow any territory and is also seeking a security guarantee backed by the United States. It is unclear how that guarantee could work. Ukrainians who spoke to Reuters in central Kyiv on Friday were not optimistic about the summit.
