Trump says he thinks Putin is ready to make deal for peace in Ukraine
'I think President Putin will make peace, I think President Zelensky will make peace,' Mr Trump told reporters at the White House. 'We'll see if they get along.'
Mr Trump has downplayed talk of a ceasefire emerging from the summit and speculated about a possible second meeting to come, involving more leaders.
'I think it's going to be a good meeting, but the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we're having. We're going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelensky, myself, and maybe we'll bring some of the European leaders along. Maybe not. I don't know that.'
Putin earlier spoke to his most senior ministers and security officials as he prepared for a meeting with Mr Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, at 11.30am Alaskan time (8.30pm Irish time) that could shape the endgame to the largest war in Europe since World War II.
In televised comments, Putin said the US was 'making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict'.
This was happening, Putin said, 'to create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, and in Europe, and in the world as a whole – if, by the next stages, we reach agreements in the area of control over strategic offensive weapons'.
His comments signalled that Russia will raise nuclear arms control as part of a wide-ranging discussion on security when he sits down with Mr Trump.
A Kremlin aide said Putin and Mr Trump would also discuss the 'huge untapped potential' for Russia-US economic ties.
A senior Eastern European official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said Putin would try to distract Mr Trump from Ukraine at the talks by offering him possible progress on nuclear arms control or something business-related.
'We hope Trump won't be fooled by the Russians; he understands all [these] dangerous things,' the official said, adding that Russia's only goal was to avoid any new sanctions and have existing sanctions lifted.
Mr Trump said there would be a press conference after the talks, but that he did not know whether it would be joint. He also said in an earlier interview with Fox News that there would be 'a give and take' on boundaries and land.
'This meeting sets up like a chess game,' Mr Trump said. 'This meeting sets up a second meeting, but there is a 25pc chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting.'
Mr Trump said it would be up to Putin and Mr Zelensky to strike an agreement, saying: 'I'm not going to negotiate their deal.'
Russia controls around a fifth of Ukraine, and Mr Zelensky and the Europeans worry that a deal could cement those gains, rewarding Putin for 11 years of efforts to seize Ukrainian land and emboldening him to expand further into Europe.
An EU diplomat said it would be 'scary to see how it all unfolds in the coming hours. Trump had very good calls yesterday with Europe, but that was yesterday'.
Mr Trump had shown willingness to join the security guarantees for Ukraine at a last-ditch virtual meeting with European leaders and Mr Zelensky on Wednesday, European leaders said, though he made no public mention of them afterwards.
Today's summit, the first Russia-US summit since June 2021, comes at one of the toughest moments for Ukraine in a war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Speaking after Wednesday's meeting, French president Emmanuel Macron said Mr Trump had said the transatlantic Nato alliance should not be part of any security guarantees designed to protect Ukraine from future attacks in a post-war settlement.
However, Mr Trump also said the US and all willing allies should be part of the security guarantees, Mr Macron added.
Expanding on that, a European official told Reuters that Mr Trump said on the call he was willing to provide some security guarantees for Europe, without spelling out what they would be.
On Wednesday, Mr Trump threatened 'severe consequences' if Putin does not agree to peace in Ukraine and has warned of economic sanctions if his meeting today proves fruitless.
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Irish Daily Mirror
14 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Trump and Putin to meet for showdown summit on Ukraine
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could make history today as the world nervously awaits their in-person talks in Alaska. The US President and Russia's dictator are due to start discussions at around 11am local time (8pm BST) joined only by their translators. The pair previously met during Trump's first term, in 2018, but have since spoken on the phone in Trump's attempt to end the illegal invasion of Ukraine - which the US leader previously vowed to end within '24 hours' of becoming President. Trump raised eyebrows this week after he left Volodymyr Zelensky out of the crucial talks into the future peace of Ukraine. Although he spoke to European leaders on the phone ahead of this meeting, fears have circled about the President's approach to leave Ukraine out of the talks and meet a dictator who has been iced out of the international community. 13:05 KEY EVENT Trump was seen pulling a stern face as he waved before boarding Air Force One for his seven hour flight. Trump boarding Air Force One (Image: Getty Images) 12:40 KEY EVENT The US President has started his 7+ hour journey to Anchorage as he left the White House at 7.31am local time (12.31 UK time). 12:36 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Sergei Lavrov spoke to Russian media while in Alaska ahead of todays summit. Lavrov arrived ahead of Putin and Trump and was oddly seen wearing a jumper with USSR written on it. Putin's puppet said: "We never make any assumptions in advance. We know we have an argument, we have a clear and well-defined position, and we will present it. "A lot has already been done here during Witkoff's visits. And Witkoff spoke on behalf of President Trump. I hope that we will continue this very useful conversation. Sergei Lavrov wearing a USSR jumper and talking to a reporter in Alaska (Image: Telegram) 12:19 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Both leaders will bring a small but important team along with them to Alaska. Trump is set to bring: Secretary of state Marco Rubio Secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick CIA director John Ratcliffe Putin will bring five men to Alaska: Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Finance Minister Anton Siluanov Defence Minister Andrei Belousov Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev 12:09 KEY EVENT Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to share a short message before the President travels to Alaska to meet Putin for the first time in seven years. The President wrote: "HIGH STAKES!!!" He is shortly expected to board a plane for his seven hour flight to Anchorage, Alaska. 11:59 KEY EVENT Defence Secretary John Healey has said the UK is ready to "put boots on the ground" in Ukraine. Healey revealed the government could put troops in Ukraine to help reinforce a ceasefire, if one is agreed on, ahead of todays summit. The defence secretary also warned that the government would be ready to "step up economic sanctions and pressure" on Putin if he "really isn't serious" in todays Alaska showdown. This comes after Trump yesterday said there was a 25% chance his meeting with the despot would "not be successful". 11:43 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Donald Trump warned Vladimir Putin he will face severe consequences if he walks away from their Alaska summit without an end to Ukraine's illegal invasion. Trump, after being asked what would be the outcome if Putin refuses to stop the killing, said: "Very severe consequences." When pushed on what these consequences would be, he said: "I don't have to say." He added: "If I do not get the necessary answers during the meeting with Putin, there will be no next meeting." This comes after Kyiv said the Russian dictator was bluffing about his willingness to end the horror war. Trump and Putin shaking hands in 2018 (Image: AFP via Getty Images) 11:26 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj A major explosion struck a Russian weapons and ammunition plant - killing and injuring dozens of workers - ahead of a crucial summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Dramatic images caught the moment a huge explosion went off in the gunpowder workshop at the Elastik plant in Ryazan. Initial reports said five people were killed, 20 injured and more than 100 people were evacuated from the burning plant. Local Russian news outlets reported the whole warehouse was completely destroyed after the huge explosion. It is unclear whether the plant was hit in a deliberate attack, a Ukrainian drone strike or an accident at the site. Read the full story here. A huge major at a Russian weapons and ammunition plant (Image: social media; east2west news) 10:54 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Vladimir Putin was seen making a stopover in the gulag city of Magadan before jetting off to Alaska. The dictator is in the far eastern part of Russia for a "full-fledged regional trip" before his meeting with Trump. A Kremlin spokesperson said: "The city is important. Putin has been there many times, even when he was prime minister." The flight from Magadan to Anchorage, Alaska, takes around four hours. Putin's car surrounded by a fleet of security vehicles in Magadan (Image: social media; east2west news) 10:35 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Locals have rallied in Alaska as they protest Trump and Putin's meeting in their state. People waved blue and yellow flags as they held placards with messages of support for Ukraine. Ukraine supporters gather in a demonstration ahead of Putin and Trumps meeting (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) 10:22 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj The US leader has suggested he could meet Putin a second time, before his in-person talk with the despot. Trump described a potential second meeting with the evil dictator as "more important" as he suggested Zelensky could be present for those talks. Ukraine's leader was surprisingly left out of today's meeting as Trump talks to Russia's dictator hours after European leaders met with Zelensky. Trump suggested some of Europe's leaders could be invited to this supposed second meeting. Yesterday, Trump said: "We're going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelenskyy, myself and maybe we'll bring some of the European leaders." 10:04 KEY EVENT Putin's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was pictured stepping down in Alaska ahead of the dictators meeting with Trump. A Russian news outlet shared footage of the Putin puppet walking into his hotel in Anchorage. Lavrov was bizarrely seen wearing a jumper that said CCCP - the Cyrillic writing for USSR. Sergei Lavrov walking into his hotel in Anchorage (Image: REN TV) 09:42 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj The leaders are set to meet at the remote Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Trump has previously visited this miliatry base - the biggest in Alaska - several times during his first term, but this will be his first time back since his November win. A White House official said having the meeting on the Alaskan base woulkd make it easier for the US President to keep the trip just one day long, according to The New York Times. The decision to hold this meeting in Alaska is significant as the US purchased the oil rich state from the Russian Empire 158 years ago. Alaska is also just less than three miles away from Russia, at its closest point to Putin's land. 09:29 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Protestors have stepped out ahead of Putin's visit to Anchorage, for a crucial meeting with Trump. Protestors waving Ukrainian flags in protest ahead of Putin's visit (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) Locals were seen waving Ukrainian flags and holding signs saying "Alaska stand with Ukraine". 09:24 Sophie Huskisson Vladimir Putin has been given a warning by the UK ahead of a crucial face-to-face summit today with Donald Trump. Speaking just hours before the talks, the UK Defence Secretary John Healey said Britain is prepared "to step up diplomatic and economic pressure" if Putin fails to act. The Cabinet minister told Times Radio: "The pressure now is on Putin to prove he wants peace. Today is a test of that. And we have worked hard in the run-up to this meeting in Alaska - intensifying diplomacy, stepping up military aid and being ready to step up economic pressure on Putin if he's not willing to act as he says he will." Mr Healey added: "Our first priority is to continue to stand with Ukraine, to step up diplomatic pressure and economic pressure on Putin but also to keep a focus on the front line, while all eyes are on Alaska, because we can't jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war." The Cabinet minister said today's face-to-face talks between Mr Trump and Putin was a "first step towards serious negotiation" in bringing the conflict to an end, adding that "talking" was the only way to solve a war, not "fighting". He shot down a question asking whether Britain's role was to "watch and wait", as he said the Government was leading the charge in military planning for a possible ceasefire and supplying military aid to the war-torn country. Read the full story here. 09:20 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Donald Trump yesterday hit back at questions around whether the US President had a "strong hand" going into these talks. The President said: "Well, he came to our country." Trump then made a bizzare claim about what could have happened if he wasn't the leader of the US, despite failing on his pre-election promise of ending the illegal invasion within 24 hours of his second term. Trump said: "I think if I weren't president, he would take over all of Ukraine, it's a war that should have never happened. "If I weren't president, in my opinion, he would much rather take over all of Ukraine but I am president and he's not going to mess around with me." 09:07 KEY EVENT A fleet of armoured limos were seen escorting Vladimir Putin to the Pacific Coast ahead of his flight to Alaska for today's peace talks. Images showed the row of black cars being flanked by flashing police cars through Russian streets. Vladimir Putin in a fleet of armoured vehicles on his journey to the US (Image: social media; east2west news)
The Irish Sun
43 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Major new social welfare cash shake-up for €35 payment in ‘treated equally' move for thousands of Irish after concern
The new change will kick in from September CASH BOOST Major new social welfare cash shake-up for €35 payment in 'treated equally' move for thousands of Irish after concern A CREDIT scheme worth €35 monthly will be scrapped and replaced with cash payouts in September, it has been confirmed. The Household Benefits Package assists with the costs of energy bills and also includes a free television licence. 2 A major change is coming in for HBP recipients from September Credit: Getty 2 Beneficiaries will now receive the boost in cash Credit: Getty Images As part of the package, households get an electricity or gas allowance of €1.15 per day, totalling around €35 each month. Those benefiting from the scheme had the option of being paid the allowance in cash or by credit - depending on their energy provider. The credit option was available to electricity customers of Electric Ireland and gas customers of Bord Gais Energy and Flogas. However the new move will mean the credit option will be removed for new customers. Any existing customers who change their energy supplier will also receive the monthly payment in cash through their bank account or post office. The Department of Social Protection said the move will ensure beneficiaries are 'treated equally'. A spokesperson for the department told us: "In September 2025, the credit option for new Household Benefits Package customers will be removed and all new customers will receive their HBP in cash, via their nominated bank account or post office. "The decision to remove the credit option for new customers has been taken following an examination of customer behaviour and trends over several years." Department officials said there was a hike in the number of new customers are opting for the cash option even where the credit option is available. Daily Money News The spokesperson continued: "It also ensures that customers of all domestic energy providers are treated equally, and that no supplier would have a perceived advantage over competitors in the domestic energy market. 'This was a concern previously raised by the Electricity Association of Ireland and the CRU. "Any existing customers using the credit facility at present can maintain that method of payment, unless they seek to change supplier. 'An existing customer who changes supplier will receive the monthly payment in cash, via their nominated bank account or post office." Beneficiaries do not have to be living alone to get the Household Benefits Package. HOW TO QUALIFY FOR HBP To get the Household Benefits Package, you must: Be living in Ireland (full-time, all year round) Be the only person in your household getting the HBP Be aged 70 or over Be aged under 70 and meet the additional rules for 'People aged under 70' set out below Have the electricity or gas bill in your name if you are applying for to have an Electricity or Gas Allowance paid as a credit on your bill You don't need the bill to be in your name if you are applying to get the Electricity or Gas Allowance paid as cash to your bank or post office account, or if the bill is in your landlord's name. But only one person in a household can avail of the payment boost. Those aged 70 or over don't need to be getting a State pension and the package is not means tested for them. People under 70 can also get the HBP boost but additional rules apply. For those aged between 66 and 70 who are not getting a qualifying social welfare payment, they must pass a means test.
The Irish Sun
43 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Gutted', say locals as popular Dublin restaurant announces shock closure due to ‘costs spiralling out of control'
A POPULAR Irish restaurant has announced its shock closure due to "costs spiralling out of control", leaving fans "gutted." The Yew Tree in Terenure, Dublin, is set to shut its doors for good on August 31. 3 The Yew Tree is a popular restaurant that was a top spot for launch A la Carte as well as their Sunday Roast. Credit: Instagram/yew_tree_terenure 3 And it is set to close its doors for good on August 31 Credit: Facebook/yew_tree_terenure The Yew Tree is a popular restaurant that was a top spot for launch A la Carte as well as their Sunday Roast. And owners Máire and Geoff have confirmed that they would cease operations on August 31. Taking to Instagram, they said: "It's with mixed emotions that we announce the closure of Yew Tree with our last trading day being the 31st August. "After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations. "With so many costs spiralling out of control, we simply cannot keep the doors open any longer. "While this marks the end of our lovely business in Terenure, we are so proud of what we have accomplished together." The restaurant thanked their loyal customers, staff and suppliers, who played a vital role in the Yew Tree. They added: "We have made many friends and built great relationships with the people of Terenure. "We've created so many memories that we will always treasure. "A huge thanks to our staff and suppliers for your loyalty and trust it has meant everything to us. Celebrity chef closes down seaside restaurant after 16 years "Thank you all for being part of our journey, and we hope to see as many of you as possible before the 31st." And a number of customers rushed to the comments to share their thoughts. One said: "Máire and Geoff, we're so sorry to hear this. You should be so proud of what you achieved, the food and service were a credit to you both. "We loved so many evenings in what became one of our favourite places to dine, and becoming friends with you both. "Good luck with everything in the future." Someone else added: "So sorry to hear this, Máire & Geoff. You will be missed. "Thanks for some lovely memories in Yew Tree & best of luck for the future." A third wrote: "Absolutely gutted to hear this Màire. We absolutely loved going there. "Amazing food & service… you folks will be sorely missed." A fourth said: "You guys are the epitome of a hard working dynamic duo who deserve the best luck. "I'm devastated to hear you are closing the doors but I'm sure an exciting new path will present itself. "Good luck Maire and Geoff in whatever you do next. Lots of love.
