Latest news with #StandUpAlaska
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Anchorage prepares for Trump-Putin summit as some pro-Ukraine protesters hit the streets
ANCHORAGE — Over 100 protesters, including many Ukraine supporters, took to the streets of Alaska's biggest city on Thursday night ahead of the highly anticipated meeting between President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The demonstrators gathered on a popular street corner in Anchorage hours before the Trump-Putin summit in the 49th state — their first face-to-face sit-down in years in which they'll discuss finding peace in Ukraine. But many of the protesters, who appeared to be mainly Democrats, didn't have high hopes over the peace talks and expressed dismay that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wouldn't be present. 4 Lisa Engberg and Jo Bennett hold signs in protest of the Trump-Putin summit. Diana Nerozzi Barbara Hood, who has lived in Anchorage for 60 years, said she brought a large Ukrainian flag with her to make a statement. The flag is supposed to 'send a message' to both Trump and Putin — as she said the Russian leader could make peace 'in an instant' if he wanted to. 'I don't think it's what they're here for, I don't think it's what's going to happen,' Hood said of prospective peace. Trump is set to speak to Putin Friday morning at Elmendorf Air Force Base, where the two leaders will then hold a joint press conference. Trump has stressed that the talks with Putin are the first stage, where he will get more information on what the Russian dictator wants. Then, according to Trump, there will have to be an additional meeting with Zelensky present to get a final peace deal across, where there will likely be 'land swaps.' 4 Barbara Hood and Kathleen Tarr hold a Ukrainian flag in protest of the summit. Diana Nerozzi 4 Maryallen Lambert hold a sign in Anchorage. Diana Nerozzi Maryellen Lambert, another Anchorage resident, shared the view that Putin could achieve peace if he just 'got out of Ukraine.' 'That's all he has to do. Instead, he's probably going to manipulate Trump to try to cede different territories for a peace deal,' Lambert, who attends many anti-Trump rallies with 'Stand Up Alaska' said. 'I don't want them here in Alaska,' she went on. The signs at the protest, which was seemingly only attended by Democrats, ranged from questioning whether Alaska would be next in Putin's landgrabs, to calling for Putin to leave the state. 'Alaska stands with Ukraine,' read many signs. 4 Diana Nerozzi Trump gave a 75% chance of success in speaking to Putin in an interview with Brian Kilmeade Thursday morning — expressing optimism that they could have a civil conversation that would lead to a trilateral meeting with Zelensky.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Live updates: Trump speaks with European leaders ahead of his meeting with Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday arrived in Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and virtual meetings with other European and U.S. leaders ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Merz has convened a series of virtual meetings in an attempt to have the voice of European and Ukrainian leaders heard ahead of the summit in Alaska. Zelenskyy and the Europeans have been sidelined from that summit. German government spokesperson Steffen Meyer said the intention of Wednesday's meetings was to 'make clear the position of the Europeans.' Zelenskyy is due to meet with European leaders first, in preparation for a virtual call with Trump and Vice President JD Vance about an hour later. A call between leaders of countries involved in the 'coalition of the willing' — those who are prepared to help police any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv — will take place last. Update: Date: 2025-08-13 12:25:19 Title: Protests being organized for Trump-Putin summit Content: The group Stand Up Alaska has organized rallies on Thursday and Friday in the state, where sentiment toward Russia has cooled since Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to suspend its three-decade-long sister city relationship with Magadan, Russia, and the Juneau Assembly sent its sister city of Vladivostock a letter expressing concern. Dimitry Shein, who ran unsuccessfully for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House in 2018, fled from the Soviet Union to Anchorage with his mother in the early 1990s. He expressed dismay that Trump has grown increasingly authoritarian. Russia and the U.S. 'are just starting to look more and more alike,' he said. ▶ Read more about Alaska's history with Russia Update: Date: 2025-08-13 12:04:05 Title: Trump's evolving rhetoric about Zelenskyy and Putin Content: Candidate Trump repeatedly said he could end the war in Ukraine 'in 24 hours.' But since President Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration, the road to a peace deal has been fraught with changing dynamics among Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The summit between Trump and Putin set for Friday in Alaska could now be a pivotal moment in the 3 1/2-year-old war. '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 Monday. ▶ Read more about what Trump has said about Zelenskyy and Putin. Update: Date: 2025-08-13 12:01:49 Title: Trump is visiting the Kennedy Center for the announcement of this year's honorees Content: And according to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Trump might make an announcement of his own, too. The center said in a statement that 'our beautiful building will undergo renovations to restore its prestige and grandeur' and credited Trump's advocacy. Trump complained during a March visit that the building is in a state of 'tremendous disrepair.' Update: Date: 2025-08-13 12:00:43 Title: Catch up on the latest headlines Content: AP Morning Wire curates the most important stories and sends them straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free newsletter here.
