Donald Trump has revealed he will meet with Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska.
The US President posted on social media: “Further details to follow.”
Earlier today, he said: “We’re getting very close to a deal on Ukraine.”
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About the meeting, he added: “It would have been sooner, but I guess there’s security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make. Otherwise I’d do it much quicker.
“He would, too. He’d like to meet as soon as possible.”
The meeting will be the first time US and Russian leaders have met since 2021, when former US President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.
It comes alongside reports today that Putin would be willing to halt the war in exchange for control over Eastern Ukraine.
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Donald Trump has revealed he will meet with Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska
According to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, Washington and Moscow want to agree a truce which allows Russia to keep the territory it has gained during its invasion.
Although a White House official said this was just speculation, speaking at the White House earlier today, Trump stated “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both sides” will be included in a peace deal for Ukraine.
The US President said: “You’re looking at a territory that’s been fought over for three and a half years. A lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died.
“So we’re looking at that, but we’re actually looking to get some back, and some swapping.”
MORE ON THE UKRAINE WAR:
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Russia currently holds around 20 per cent of Ukraine
He added the Ukrainian President is “going to have to get ready to sign something”.
While Volodymyr Zelensky has not commented on that particular detail, during his evening address to the nation, he said it was possible to achieve a ceasefire provided adequate pressure was applied to Russia.
Earlier today, he posted on social media: “We must support all constructive steps together.
“A decent, reliable, lasting peace can only be a joint result.”
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Ukraine has previously shown a willingness to be flexible in the search for an end to the war
The Ukrainian President added: “All are united by the understanding that the war must be brought to an end and that Europe must develop a common position on every important security aspect.”
Russia currently holds around 20 per cent of Ukraine, including four regions which have been illegally annexed – Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
It is understood under proposed deals, Russia would take the whole of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which is made up of Donetsk and Luhansk.
However, it would give up the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
While it has previously shown a willingness to be flexible in the search for an end to the war, it is unclear whether Ukraine or its European allies would accept such a deal.
More to follow…
