Bolton: Trump-Putin summit a ‘great victory' for Moscow
'The only better place for Putin than Alaska would be if the summit were being held in Moscow,' Bolton said during an appearance on CNN's 'The Source' with host Kaitlan Collins. 'So, the initial setup, I think, is a great victory for Putin.'
'He's a rogue leader of a pariah state, and he's going to be welcomed into the United States,' he added.
Bolton floated Geneva or Austria as better sites for a meeting on neutral ground, adding Putin's arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which was issued in 2023 over the unlawful deportation of children, 'could have been waived.'
'I don't think anybody would have objected, frankly,' the former adviser said. He later reiterated his belief that Putin may attempt to 'take advantage' of Trump during the one-on-one summit.
Trump announced the meeting between the two world leaders on Friday after previously threatening to impose increased sanctions on the Kremlin to deflate funds for the war in Ukraine and pressure the Russian leader to agree to a ceasefire.
The president on Friday signaled that Ukraine would need to cede land in order to end the war with the potential to grab territory in a proposed swap.
Bolton, in the interview, predicted Trump may favor Putin with the terms of any peace deal.
'I have a feeling this is sliding very quickly in Russia's direction,' Bolton told Collins.
'We're not quite back at February the 28th, in the Oval Office, when Trump told [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky, 'You don't have any cards.' But what's happening is that Russia and the United States are discussing what terms they're going to present to Zelensky, and it may well be that Zelensky has no choice here,' he continued. 'Surrendering is always one way to get a peace deal.'
Trump said he will be fair to both sides in an effort to bring an end to the more than three-year-long war.
'You're looking at territory that's been fought over for three and a half years. A lot of Russians have died, a lot of Ukrainians,' the president told reporters on Friday. 'So we're looking at that, but we're actually to get some back and some swapping.'
'It's complicated. It's actually — nothing easy. It's very complicated,' he continued. 'But we're going to get some back. And we're going to get some switched.'
Zelensky has since pushed back on the proposal and argued that Ukraine should have a seat at the negotiating table.
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Los Angeles Times
21 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Zelensky rejects Trump talk of ceding Ukrainian territory, says Kyiv must be part of any talks
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday dismissed the planned summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that any peace deal excluding Kyiv would lead to 'dead solutions.' The Trump-Putin meeting, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, has been cast as a potential breakthrough in the nearly 3½-year war. Trump had previously agreed to meet with Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelensky, stoking fears for Ukraine and many allies that it could be sidelined in efforts to stop Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. In a statement posted to Telegram, Zelensky said Ukraine's territorial integrity, enshrined in its constitution, must be nonnegotiable, and he emphasized that lasting peace must include Ukraine's voice at the table. In response to Trump's comments to reporters Friday that any agreement would probably involve 'some swapping of territories,' Zelensky said that Ukraine 'will not give Russia any awards for what it has done' and that 'Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.' Touching on Ukrainian anxieties that a direct meeting between Putin and Trump could marginalize Ukraine and European interests, Zelensky said: 'Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.' Ukrainian officials had previously told the Associated Press privately that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognize Ukraine's inability to regain lost territories militarily. Trump announced Friday his planned meeting with Putin in Alaska. 'It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska,' Putin's foreign affairs advisor, Yuri Ushakov, said Saturday in a statement posted to the Kremlin's news channel. The summit could prove pivotal in a war that began when Russia invaded its western neighbor in February 2022 and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although it's far from certain it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace. In his comments to reporters at the White House on Friday, before his post confirming the date and place, Trump gave no further details on the 'swapping of territories.' Analysts, including some close to the Kremlin, have suggested that Russia could offer to give up territory it controls outside the five regions it claims to have annexed — Crimea and the four regions seized since Moscow's invasion. Trump said his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Zelensky. His announcement that he planned to host one of America's adversaries on U.S. soil broke with expectations that they'd meet in a third country. The gesture appears to give Putin validation after the U.S. and its allies had long sought to make him a pariah over his war against Ukraine. Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told the Associated Press that the 'symbology' of holding the summit in Alaska was clear, and that the location 'naturally favors Russia.' 'It's easy to imagine Putin making the point. … We once had this territory and we gave it to you, therefore Ukraine had this territory and now should give it to us,' he said, referring to the 1867 transaction known as the Alaska Purchase when Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million. On the streets of Kyiv, reactions to the idea of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia ranged from skepticism to quiet resignation. 'It may not be capitulation, but it would be a loss,' said Ihor Usatenko, a 67-year-old pensioner, who said he would consider ceding territory 'on condition for compensation and, possibly, some reparations.' Anastasia Yemelianova, 31, said she was torn: 'Honestly, I have two answers to that question. The first is as a person who loves her country. I don't want to compromise within myself,' she told the AP. 'But seeing all these deaths and knowing that my mother is now living in Nikopol under shelling and my father is fighting, I want all this to end as soon as possible.' Others, like Svitlana Dobrynska, whose son died fighting, rejected outright concessions but supported halting combat to save lives. 'We don't have the opportunity to launch an offensive to recapture our territories,' the 57-year-old pensioner said, 'But to prevent people from dying, we can simply stop military operations, sign some kind of agreement, but not give up our territories.' Upset that Putin did not heed his calls to stop bombing Ukrainian cities, Trump almost two weeks ago moved up his ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a peace settlement. The deadline was Friday. But the White House did not answer questions that evening about the state of possible sanctions after Trump announced the Putin summit. Trump's recent criticism of Russian attacks on Ukraine marked a reversal for the president, who had previously praised Putin and castigated Zelensky over the war. His apparent turn toward Moscow now appears to be another shift. Gould-Davies likened attempts to understand that shift to 'Kremlinology' — the Cold War-era practice of deciphering opaque signals from Soviet leadership. 'We're … looking for clues and for hints … about what the hell is going on; what the mix of influences around Trump and indeed in Trump's head is propelling his latest statement,' he said. 'It's as if his disillusionment with Putin … never happened,' Gould-Davies said, pointing to a sudden return to the more conciliatory Russia policy Trump embraced at the start of his presidency. Prior to Trump announcing the meeting with Putin, his efforts to pressure Russia into stopping the fighting had delivered no progress. The Kremlin's bigger army is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at great cost in troops and armor while it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities. Two people died and 16 were wounded Saturday when a Russian drone hit a minibus in the suburbs of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said. Two others died after a Russian drone struck their car in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov. Ukraine's air force said Saturday it intercepted 16 of the 47 Russian drones launched overnight, while 31 drones hit targets across 15 different locations. It also said it shot down one of the two missiles Russia deployed. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 97 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea overnight and 21 more Saturday morning. Kullab and Morton write for the Associated Press and reported from Kyiv and London, respectively.
Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Alaska Governor Reacts To Trump-Putin Meeting: 'Most Strategic Location'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Alaska is the "most fitting" location for the summit between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the state's governor has said. Mike Dunleavy posted on X that Alaska's location, which at its closest point is only 2 miles from Russia, makes it "the most strategic location" for the leaders to discuss the war in Ukraine on August 15. Russian media also welcomed the location for Putin, who will make his first visit to the U.S. for a decade. This montage shows Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. This montage shows Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Getty Images Why It Matters A U.S. location has allowed Trump to make a bold announcement and act as host for an event with potentially significant geopolitical consequences. Alaska was once a part of the Russian empire before it was sold to the U.S. by Tsar Alexander II for $7.2 million in 1867 and Russian media, which have discussed Moscow trying to recapture it, have noted the symbolism of the Arctic state's location for a summit. What To Know Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda called the choice "logical" given the countries' common economic interests in the Arctic and that unlike the various other venues broached, Putin runs no risk of being arrested under a warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the jurisdiction of which the U.S. does not recognize. Before Trump and the Kremlin confirmed the meeting between the leaders, Putin had suggested the United Arab Emirates as a possible venue but the choice of Alaska has been welcomed by Moscow. Trump announced on Truth Social that the summit would take place on Friday, August 15, in Alaska, which was confirmed by Putin's aide Yury Ushakov who described the location as "logical." I welcome the upcoming meeting between President Donald J. Trump and Russia's President Putin being held here in the great state of Alaska. Alaska is the most strategic location in the world, sitting at the crossroads of North America and Asia, with the Arctic to our north and… — Governor Mike Dunleavy (@GovDunleavy) August 8, 2025 The Alaska governor agreed, saying on X that his state "is the most strategic location in the world, sitting at the crossroads of North America and Asia," with the Arctic to the north and the Pacific to the south. What happens in the Arctic and the Pacific impacts Alaska before the rest of the country and that it was "fitting that discussions of global importance take place here," he added. Komsomolskaya Pravda praised the choice of Alaska and the absence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the talks, although many details have not been clarified. What People Are Saying Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy on X: "With a mere two miles separating Russia from Alaska, no other place plays a more vital role in our national defense, energy security, and Arctic leadership." Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda: "The two countries are close neighbors, the choice is logical. There are common economic interests in the Arctic, so joint projects are possible." It added: "In Alaska, outsiders are excluded. Only Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will be there. No Zelensky, no Europe." What Happens Next When they meet in Alaska, Trump and Putin are expected to discuss a peace plan that would see Ukraine surrendering new territories to Russia Trump himself saying territory could be exchanged for a ceasefire. On Saturday, Zelensky said Ukraine's territorial integrity was enshrined in its constitution.
The Hill
21 minutes ago
- The Hill
Graham ‘confident' Trump will walk away from summit if Putin ‘insists on bad deal'
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a major proponent of increased sanctions on Moscow and its allies, signaled Saturday that he supported President Trump's decision to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Invoking former President Ronald Reagan's summit with former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev before the end of the Cold War and subsequent fall of the Soviet Union, Graham said he was 'confident' in Trump. 'I'm confident President Trump will walk away – like Reagan – if Putin insists on a bad deal,' the South Carolina Republican wrote on social platform X. 'Good luck, Mr. President, in your efforts to end this brutal war.' 'The world should be pulling for you. I know I am,' he added. The remarks follow Trump's announcement Friday that he would meet with the Russian leader in Alaska next week to discuss ending the more than three-year-long war in Ukraine. The president is proposing that the Eastern European nations swap territory in an effort to fast track a peace deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to the upcoming summit, has rejected the idea and urged the U.S. to give Kyiv a seat at the table. Trump also brushed off reports that he wanted Putin and Zelensky to speak first. 'He would like to meet with me,' he told reporters Friday, adding, 'and I'll do whatever I can to stop the killing.' The highly anticipated conversation also comes as criticism mounts following Trump's unfulfilled threat to hit Russia with new sanctions. The president originally gave Putin about 50-days to accept terms for a ceasefire but later shortened the timeline as the Kremlin continued to strike Ukraine. Trump has, however, announced up to 50 percent tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil, a move that has seemingly only pushed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi closer to Russia. The secondary sanctions were part of a bipartisan measure led by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) aiming to defund Russia's war machine. 'Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,' Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this month, but did not issue similar sanctions on China, who is also a major trading partner with Moscow. Lawmakers have largely left the implementation of sanctions in Trump's hands. Graham on Saturday pushed back on critics, lauding Trump for being willing to speak with Putin directly before imposing financial restrictions. 'To those who criticize President Trump for being willing to meet with Putin to end the bloodbath in Ukraine — remember Reagan met with Gorbachev to try to end the Cold War,' the senator wrote. Amid the president's trade restrictions, Putin has touted strong relationships with Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Putin and Modi recently spoke via phone and touted their alliance. 'Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,' Modi wrote on X. 'I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year.'
