Tensions soar ahead of the Alaska summit as the U.S. claims Vladimir Putin personally “begged” to meet Donald Trump. With geopolitical stakes high and global eyes on the first Trump-Putin meeting of his second term, experts warn of a major showdown that could reshape diplomatic and strategic dynamics.
00:03The president is viewing this, as she described, as something that was fact-finding in a way to see exactly what was possible.
00:12And if I may say, lots of luck, keep fighting, or I may say, we can make a deal.
00:18The summit with Putin, do you anticipate that Ukraine's Zelensky will be invited?
00:24Well, I can tell you a few things the president has said.
00:27As I mentioned when I opened, that it was Putin who suggested this meeting.
00:35It is something that also my colleague, Caroline Levitt, discussed a great deal just a little bit ago on her briefing.
00:43And I think that that's important to know, that the president is viewing this, as she described, as something that was fact-finding in a way to see exactly what was possible.
00:55I do also want to bring to you some of his comments, which you may not have heard, regarding his commitment to our European partners and to Ukraine and President Zelensky.
01:08We know, at this point, he said that this is really a feel-out meeting.
01:16He said, I'm going to meet with President Putin, and we're going to see what he has in mind.
01:21And if it's a fair deal, I'll reveal it to the European Union leaders and to the NATO leaders, and also to President Zelensky.
01:29I think, out of respect, I'll call him first, being President Zelensky, and then I'll call them afterwards.
01:36And if I may say, lots of luck, keep fighting, or I may say, we can make a deal.
01:43I've seen a pull out of Ukraine, the president said.
01:46Eighty-eight percent of the people would like to see a deal made.
01:50Lastly, he noted, as he does, the death is incredible.
01:53It's the worst thing that's happened, by far, the worst that's happened since World War II.
01:58So I'm going in to speak to Putin, and I'm going to be telling him, you've got to end this war.
02:05You've got to end it.
02:06So we know what his agenda is, which is what it's always been.
02:09We know what has bothered him, which is the killing of civilians.
02:14We know that he has been not happy with President Putin, with his actions, and what's happened in Ukraine.
02:21We know that he is going to inform President Zelensky and European leaders about what happens at this meeting.
02:28And then we will all find out what happened.
02:31And this is what I know the president has been caring about.
