US President Donald Trump on Friday said his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska was aimed at curbing the massive human toll of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, claiming that 5,000–7,000 lives could potentially be saved each week if progress is achieved.
At a joint press conference in Anchorage, Trump said, “We’re going to stop 5,000, 6,000, 7,000 people a week from being killed, and President Putin wants to see that as much as I do.”
The US President described the discussions as “very productive,” noting that while several points had been agreed upon, some key issues remain unresolved. “There’s no deal until we have a deal. I will call up NATO in a little while, and of course, I will call President Zelenskyy and tell him about today’s meeting. It’s ultimately up to them,” he said.
Trump praised both American and Russian officials for their work behind the scenes, crediting them for the progress made. He also highlighted his longstanding personal rapport with Putin, calling their relationship “fantastic,” despite past challenges posed by what he described as the “Russia hoax.”
“It made it harder to deal with as a country, but we will have a good chance once this is over. Some points are minor, but one is very significant. We didn’t get there today, but we have a very good chance of getting there,” Trump concluded, expressing optimism about a future breakthrough.
The summit in Anchorage, attended by senior officials from both sides, was seen as a fresh attempt to find common ground on one of the world’s most pressing conflicts.