ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – President Donald Trump arrived in Alaska on Wednesday for a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring his primary goal is to secure a “rapid ceasefire” in Ukraine and warning of “economically severe” consequences for Russia if progress is not made.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after takeoff, Trump set an urgent and demanding tone for the talks. “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today,” he said. “I’m in this to stop the killing.”
The meeting, which was expanded from a one-on-one to a larger bilateral format, includes a heavyweight U.S. delegation. President Trump is joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also participating in an expanded lunch meeting.
Addressing Russia’s recent drone strikes on Ukraine, Trump interpreted the aggression as a negotiating tactic. “He’s trying to set a stage. I think in his mind, that helps him make a better deal,” Trump said of Putin. “It actually hurts him… But he thinks that makes him, gives him strength in negotiating. I’ll be talking to him about it.”
While pushing for an end to the violence, Trump clarified that he would not be negotiating on behalf of Ukraine, stating that any potential territorial swaps are “to be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision.” He also floated the possibility of future U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, but specified they would be “along with Europe and other countries. Not in the form of NATO.”
The President linked any potential for improved economic relations directly to a resolution of the conflict. He noted that the Russian delegation includes business leaders and said he would be open to discussing business with Russia “if we make progress.”
“He wants a piece of [the U.S. economy],” Trump stated. “Because his country is not hot economically… But they’re not doing business until we get the war settled.”
In a separate domestic policy announcement, President Trump revealed his intention to set new tariff rates on imported chips, semiconductors, and steel “next week or the week after,” as part of his strategy to encourage domestic manufacturing.
