U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that there is a 25% chance his upcoming summit with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday could fail.
Trump told Fox News, “This meeting sets the stage for a second one, but there’s a 25% chance it might not succeed.”
“Bilateral” Talks
The Kremlin announced Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will hold “bilateral” talks aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine during their historic summit in Alaska on Friday.
The meeting, scheduled at a U.S. airbase near Anchorage, will mark Putin’s first visit to a Western country since Russia’s offensive against Ukraine began in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Thursday, is not expected to attend the summit.
After nearly three and a half years of conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, Trump urged Putin on Wednesday to pursue peace or face “very severe consequences.”
The Kremlin stated that talks are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. local time (19:30 GMT) on Friday.
Delegation Negotiations
A Russian presidential advisor mentioned, “The discussion will be held in a bilateral format, naturally with interpreters, followed by delegation negotiations during a working breakfast.”
He added, “It is likely clear to everyone that the main topic will be resolving the Ukrainian crisis, along with broader discussions on peace and security.”
Putin and Trump will hold a joint press conference after their meeting to “summarize the outcomes of the negotiations.”
