After talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska, President Trump plans to satisfy on Monday with Ukrainian chief Volodymr Zelenskyy.
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
On Friday morning, aboard Air Power One, President Trump talked powerful to Fox Information, going into his assembly with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I will not be completely happy if I stroll away with out some type of a ceasefire.
DETROW: When he landed in Anchorage, Alaska, Trump rolled out the crimson carpet – actually – for the Russian chief, let him experience within the presidential limousine and spoke with Putin for 3 hours. However ultimately, no ceasefire was agreed to. Nonetheless, Trump is looking the assembly an important success. And tomorrow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several other different European leaders are set to satisfy with Trump on the White Home. NPR’s Luke Garrett is right here to speak about what comes subsequent. Hey there.
LUKE GARRETT, BYLINE: Hey. How’s it going?
DETROW: Let’s begin with the visitor listing. Who’s attending tomorrow’s assembly?
GARRETT: So Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, in fact, might be there, together with Europe’s high leaders, together with European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and the secretary common of NATO, Mark Rutte. Many different nation leaders, like French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have mentioned they’re additionally touring to D.C. with different European leaders. And their presence is de facto notable right here, Scott, as a result of it exhibits a united European entrance alongside Zelenskyy. All of us keep in mind the final time Zelenskyy met with Trump within the Oval Workplace in February. That assembly led to shouting and a fractured relationship between Trump and the Ukrainian chief. We do not understand how tomorrow will play out, however Zelenskyy can have allies with him within the White Home. However to be clear, these European leaders actually have their pores and skin within the sport as effectively, by way of their roles and a possible safety assure for Ukraine.
DETROW: So that is Monday. Friday, Trump met with Putin for a number of hours in Alaska. What does that summit inform us about what we may count on tomorrow with Zelenskyy and these different leaders?
GARRETT: It tells us so much. This morning, U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff, who was a part of the Trump-Putin assembly, pulled again the curtain on what was mentioned and probably agreed to on Friday. Witkoff instructed CNN that the Russians made concessions on safety ensures for Ukraine. Now, the satan might be within the particulars right here – what sort of protections have been truly agreed to and who will implement them? Witkoff actually did not say. And it is also value noting right here that the Russians have not confirmed this, so a little bit of a grain of salt there. And individually, , Witkoff mentioned that the Russians need Ukrainian land, one thing Putin has been saying because the warfare started.
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STEVE WITKOFF: The elemental challenge, which is a few form of land swap, which is clearly finally within the management of the Ukrainians, that might not have been mentioned at this assembly. We intend to debate it on Monday.
GARRETT: So in Witkoff’s telling, the negotiation desk is de facto set with Ukrainian safety ensures on one aspect and a possible land swap on the opposite, with a peace settlement form of hanging within the stability. Witkoff mentioned he is longing for a peace deal, however different U.S. officers at that Friday assembly actually weren’t so positive.
DETROW: OK, inform me extra about that, then.
GARRETT: Proper, so Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a distinct tone this morning a couple of potential deal. Here is Rubio on ABC Information.
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MARCO RUBIO: We’re nonetheless an extended methods off. I imply, we’re not on the precipice of a peace settlement. We’re not on the edge of 1, however I do assume progress was made.
GARRETT: And Rubio mentioned if no peace deal is reached between Russia and Ukraine, Trump nonetheless has levers of energy in opposition to Putin’s financial system.
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RUBIO: By way of sanctions, look, on the finish of the day, if we won’t attain a peace settlement right here and this warfare continues and so forth, then I anticipate you may see the president take additional motion. He is already made that clear.
GARRETT: Finally, Rubio framed the negotiation equally to Witkoff in that Ukrainian safety ensures and land exchanges are the bargaining chips right here. Rubio mentioned will probably be as much as Putin and Zelenskyy to make this deal.
DETROW: In order that’s the US’ aspect of issues. You talked about earlier than how tense and disastrous earlier conferences between Trump and Zelenskyy have been this 12 months. What are we listening to from Zelenskyy forward of this?
GARRETT: Zelenskyy mentioned Sunday that the sign of potential Ukrainian safety ensures coming from that Friday summit marked a, quote, “important change.” However Zelenskyy additionally highlighted that there aren’t any particulars on how these theoretical security assurances will truly work on the bottom. Most significantly, the Ukrainian chief rejected the concept of gifting away the japanese Donetsk area of Ukraine or buying and selling any land. He additionally actually renewed his requires a ceasefire. So clearly, there are a variety of particulars right here that also should be sorted out, however President Trump and Zelenskyy each agree {that a} peace deal, if it was finalized, would actually need a trilateral assembly between the Russians, Ukrainians and the U.S. No such assembly has been deliberate as of but.
DETROW: That is NPR’s Luke Garrett. Thanks a lot for all of that.
GARRETT: Thanks for having me.
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