Trump and Putin to Meet in Alaska Amid Ukraine War Talks

"...Trump has often bragged about his warm relationship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin...."

"...Trump began asking Europeans and White House aides what’s changed about his counterpart...."

"...Trump’s growing frustration with Putin leading up to their summit in Alaska Friday to discuss ending Russia’s years-long invasion of Ukraine...."

"...Trump promised to quickly broker a peace deal even before he took office...."

"...Not only has Putin resisted ceasefire proposals, but Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine this year...."

"...Trump’s desire to better understand Putin comes amid Ukrainian and European concern that the White House is being manipulated by the Kremlin, handing Putin a victory on the global stage by agreeing to meet with him on American soil and without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky present...."

"...Trump on Wednesday warned that Russia would face “very severe consequences” if he determines that Putin is still not serious about ending the war with Ukraine...."

"...Trump didn’t specify what those consequences might be, but he has previously threatened Moscow with stiffer economic sanctions or tariffs...."

"...Trump remains confident he can personally and rapidly assess Putin, saying on Tuesday that he’ll know after “probably the first two minutes” of their sit-down if an agreement can be reached to end the war...."

"...Trump’s rising anger with Putin began earlier this summer, coming as Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s primary interlocutor with Russia, was also expressing frustration with the Kremlin...."

"...Trump also began using frequent expletives when talking about Putin in private meetings...."

"...It was clear that Trump’s perspective was changing...."

"...His anger was palpable...."

"...Trump’s aides have told the president that the coronavirus pandemic is at least partly responsible for any change in Putin since he last met Trump in 2019...."

"...Trump was perplexed about why he had been unable to get Putin to agree to end the Ukraine war...."

"...Many around Trump are now trying to give him the idea that Putin changed so he has a reason to say that he wasn’t wrong in his initial impression coming into office that Putin is a good guy...."

"...Trump is “effective at foreign policy because of his ability to look anyone in the eye, friend or foe, to make better deals for our country or bring peace to conflicts around the world.”..."

"...Trump has in the past expressed skepticism of the US intelligence community, particularly its assessments related to Russia, and it’s unclear how much he’ll rely on intelligence reports going into Friday’s summit...."

"...Trump’s briefers were laying out the hard truths of the situation, including the widely-held view that Putin believes it’s in his best interest to continue the war...."

"...Trump remains confident he can personally and rapidly assess Putin, saying on Tuesday that he’ll know after “probably the first two minutes” of their sit-down if an agreement can be reached to end the war...."

"...Trump said of his first term, adding that Friday’s summit would be a “feel-out” meeting...."

"...Trump has questioned if Putin has changed, others have noticed an evolution in Trump when it comes to his thinking about the Russian...."

"...European allies say the one who changed is Trump, both in his comfort level in his job and in his understanding of who Putin is...."

"...Trump has continued altering his thinking on Russia since he took office earlier this year...."

"...His approach in early January was naïve … Now Europeans say he finally gets it that Putin is a murderous leader...."

"...Trump’s rising anger with Putin began earlier this summer, coming as Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s primary interlocutor with Russia, was also expressing frustration with the Kremlin...."

"...Witkoff privately commented that the Russians were “tapping us along.”..."

"...Trump also began using frequent expletives when talking about Putin in private meetings...."

"...It was clear that Trump’s perspective was changing...."

"...His anger was palpable...."

"...Trump’s aides have told the president that the coronavirus pandemic is at least partly responsible for any change in Putin since he last met Trump in 2019...."

"...Trump was perplexed about why he had been unable to get Putin to agree to end the Ukraine war...."

"...Many around Trump are now trying to give him the idea that Putin changed so he has a reason to say that he wasn’t wrong in his initial impression coming into office that Putin is a good guy...."

"...Trump is “effective at foreign policy because of his ability to look anyone in the eye, friend or foe, to make better deals for our country or bring peace to conflicts around the world.”..."

"...Trump has in the past expressed skepticism of the US intelligence community, particularly its assessments related to Russia, and it’s unclear how much he’ll rely on intelligence reports going into Friday’s summit...."

"...Trump’s briefers were laying out the hard truths of the situation, including the widely-held view that Putin believes it’s in his best interest to continue the war...."

"...Trump remains confident he can personally and rapidly assess Putin, saying on Tuesday that he’ll know after “probably the first two minutes” of their sit-down if an agreement can be reached to end the war...."

"...Trump said of his first term, adding that Friday’s summit would be a “feel-out” meeting...."

"...Trump has questioned if Putin has changed, others have noticed an evolution in Trump when it comes to his thinking about the Russian...."

"...European allies say the one who changed is Trump, both in his comfort level in his job and in his understanding of who Putin is...."

"...Trump has continued altering his thinking on Russia since he took office earlier this year...."

"...His approach in early January was naïve … Now Europeans say he finally gets it that Putin is a murderous leader...."