Zelenskyy Says He and Carney Agree Putin Seeking to ‘Buy Time' With Trump Meeting
'We see it the same way, and it is obvious that the Russians simply want to buy time, not end the war,' Zelenskyy said in his Aug. 11 readout of the call with Carney. The Ukrainian leader said Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure prove that Putin does not want to end the war.
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Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Trump suggests he'll know if Putin wants a peace deal with Ukraine soon into their meeting
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday that he expected to determine mere moments into his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week whether it would be possible to work out a deal to halt the war in Ukraine. 'At the end of that meeting, probably the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,' Trump said at a White House press conference that he called to announce plans for a federal takeover of Washington's police force to help combat crime. He said he thought Friday's sitdown with Putin in Alaska would be 'really a feel-out meeting.' Trump added that 'it'll be good, but it might be bad' and predicted he may say, 'lots of luck, keep fighting. Or I may say, we can make a deal.' Putin wants to lock in Russia's gains since invading Ukraine in February 2022 as Trump presses for a ceasefire that has remained out of reach. Trump's eagerness to reach a deal has raised fears in Ukraine and Europe about such an agreement favoring Russia, without sufficient input from Ukraine. Trump has alternately harshly criticized both leaders after promising — and so far failing — to swiftly end the conflict. Trump on Monday ducked repeated chances to say that he would push for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take part in his discussions with Putin, and was especially dismissive of Zelenskyy and his need to be part of an effort to seek peace. He said the Ukrainian president had been to 'a lot of meetings' without managing to halt a war that Russia started. Trump also noted that Zelenskyy had been in power for the duration of the war and said 'nothing happened' during that time. He contrasted that with Putin, who has wielded power in Russia for decades. Trump said that, after his meeting with Putin, 'The next meeting will be with Zelenskyy and Putin' but it could also be a meeting with 'Putin and Zelenskyy and me.' European allies have pushed for Ukraine's involvement, fearful that discussions could otherwise favor Moscow. To that point, Trump said he would call Zelenskyy and European leaders after his discussion with Putin to 'tell them what kind of a deal — I'm not going to make a deal. It's not up to me to make a deal.' Trump spent the early part of his administration decrying Zelenskyy, even suggesting he was a dictator because his country has not held elections during the war. Zelenskyy was hounded out of the Oval Office in February after Trump and Vice President JD Vance suggested he hadn't been grateful enough for U.S. support. More recently, Trump has expressed frustration with Putin that Russia hasn't appeared to take a push for a ceasefire more seriously, and softened his tone toward Zelenskyy. His comments Monday suggested he might have had another change of heart. 'President Putin invited me to get involved,' Trump said. He noted that he thought it was 'very respectful' that Putin is coming to the U.S. for Friday's meeting, instead of insisting that Trump go to Russia. 'I'd like to see a ceasefire. I'd like to see the best deal that can be made for both parties,' Trump said. The president repeated that any major agreement could involve land swaps, without elaborating. He had threatened Moscow with more economic sanctions if more isn't done to work toward a ceasefire, but suggested Monday that, should Friday's meeting be successful, he could see a day when the U.S. and Russia normalize trade relations. Putin is expected to be unwavering in his demands to keep all the territory his forces now occupy and to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, with the long-term aim of returning it to Moscow's sphere of influence. Zelenskyy insists he will never consent to any formal Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory or give up a bid for NATO membership. Putin believes he has the advantage on the ground as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russian advances along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front. On the front lines, few Ukrainian soldiers believe there's an end in sight to the war. With the Europeans and Ukrainians so far not invited to the summit, Germany sought to prepare by inviting Trump, Zelenskyy, the NATO chief and several other European leaders for a virtual meeting on Wednesday. The German chancellery said the talks would seek additional ways to pressure Russia and prepare for peace negotiations and 'related issues of territorial claims and security.' Steffen Meyer, spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said the German government 'has always emphasized that borders must not be shifted by force' and that Ukraine should decide its own fate 'independently and autonomously.' Earlier, a Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and wounded two others in a region some 260 miles (418 kilometers) east of Moscow. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a total of 39 Ukrainian drones overnight and Monday morning over several Russian regions as well as over the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.
3 hours ago
Trump says he'll tell Putin to end Russia's war in Ukraine at summit in Alaska
Pres. Trump said that he will tell Russia's Pres. Putin, 'You got to end this war.' Ukraine's Pres. Zelenskyy warned that the Russian leader is trying to deceive the U.S.
Politico
3 hours ago
- Politico
Trump extends US-China trade truce for another 90 days
Earlier in the day, Trump remained coy about a possible extension at a White House press conference, saying, 'We'll see what happens.' The administration is increasingly seeking to fold non-tariff-related trade disputes into trade negotiations. Trump earlier on Monday defended a deal he struck with chip-makers Nvidia and AMD that allows them to continue to sell certain chips to China despite concerns over national security, in exchange for the companies giving the U.S. government a portion of the revenue from the sales. Trump also did not follow through last week on a threat to impose secondary tariffs of up to 100 percent on China because of its continued purchases of Russian oil, even though he punished India for the same thing by doubling U.S. tariffs to 50 percent. Top officials from the two countries met in Stockholm late last month, the third in a series of meetings between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese negotiators led by Vice Premier He Lifeng. 'This action is necessary to facilitate ongoing and productive discussion with China about remedying trade imbalances, unfair trade practices, expanding market access for American exports, and aligning with the United States on national security and economic matters,' the White House said in a fact sheet. Those talks — in Geneva in May and London in June — have focused on stabilizing the trade relationship after tit-for-tat tariff increases, easing Beijing's blockade on critical minerals exports and eliminating U.S. curbs on sales of ethane to Chinese manufacturers. With existing duties remaining in place, the U.S. agreed in May to temporarily lower tariffs on Chinese imports from 145 percent to 30 percent, while China dropped levies on U.S. goods from 125 percent to 10 percent. Trade between the countries has been strained over the past year, as Trump has targeted Chinese goods in his effort to upend the global economy. That has put businesses that are heavily reliant on Chinese goods — like the toy industry and the apparel industry — in a difficult situation as they try to navigate changing tariff levels. The 90-day pause will supply those businesses with a sense of certainty, helping with inventory through the Christmas season — even if it comes at a higher cost. Jeff Moon, a former assistant USTR for China, said Trump appears to be hoping to reach a deal with China in time for a regional summit in South Korea in late October. 'You can see the choreography of what's happening,' Moon said Friday during a discussion hosted by the Washington International Trade Association, referring to a series of 'confidence-building steps' between the two countries in recent months.
