2 days ago
Lisa Murkowski Issues Warning Ahead of Trump-Putin Alaska Summit
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Republican Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed skepticism and attempted to temper expectations ahead of the summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin planned for Friday in her home state.
Newsweek reached out to the White House and Murkowski's office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The historic meeting between the two world leaders, expected to take place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, comes amid mounting pressure to end the Russia-Ukraine war, launched by Putin in February 2022.
Trump has sought to broker a peace deal between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but the two sides remain at odds over issues including whether Russia should be able to keep any of the territory it has seized amid its invasion. Trump in recent weeks has expressed frustration with Russia as the war continues, and Friday's meeting could have key implication for peace talks as well as Russia-U.S. relations.
Senator Lisa Murkowski speaks during a hearing in Washington on July 11, 2023.
Senator Lisa Murkowski speaks during a hearing in Washington on July 11, JDRF
What To Know
Murkowski shared her thoughts on the summit between the two world leaders in an interview with Alaskan news station KTUU. She said that she thought the meeting was unlikely to lead to an end to the war, but added that she hopes it will catalyze "incremental steps toward a peaceful and fair resolution for the people of Ukraine."
"Those who think that this meeting is going to bring about world peace are probably overly optimistic," she told the news station. "The big tempering of expectation that we've seen from the president in the last couple of days is probably meant to be just that."
Still, she said the fact there is any conversation occurring is a "first step."
"To have an initial first step for hopefully productive conversation, that's good, but I am not one who is expecting that there's going to be announcement at some point tomorrow saying that the war is over," Murkowski said. "That would be extraordinarily welcome news, but I am not anticipating that."
Nothing can really be done to bring the war to a close without the involvement of Zelensky, she said.
Murkowski also said she understands concerns about the meeting occurring on U.S. soil, but that it could be a step to "facilitate the end of the bloodshed" and that it "should not be on Putin's terms."
What People Are Saying
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X: "The key thing is that this meeting should open up a real path toward a just peace and a substantive discussion between leaders in a trilateral format – Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian side. It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America. We are ready, as always, to work as productively as possible."
Former Vice President Mike Pence wrote on X: 'Praying for President Trump to Stand Strong in Alaska Today. A Ceasefire followed by a Just and Lasting Peace will only come through American Strength."
Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, said on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Friday: "The first thing that's happening here is the welcoming of Putin back into the order of major mainstream nations. He is visiting the United States for the first time since he became a war criminal. He's standing with the most powerful person in the world, and it is a sign from Donald Trump, essentially, that all is forgiven. And so this is a big moment for Putin because he essentially is being legitimized in the eyes of the United States and in the eyes of the world. We know there's not going to be any major peace deal here, largely because one of the parties to the war isn't at the table."
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote on X: "If Donald Trump negotiates an end to Putin's war on Ukraine without Ukraine having to cede territory, I'll nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize myself."
What Happens Next
The meeting is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. local time. It will be closely monitored for signs that the two leaders could take steps toward a peace deal or ceasefire.
