Trump pledges to take back territory for Ukraine at Alaska summit with Putin

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he will try to get some territory back for Ukraine during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

Trump was speaking at a White House press conference he said, “Russia’s occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They occupied prime territory. We’re going to try to get some of that territory back for Ukraine.”

He also mentioned that his upcoming meeting with Putin in Alaska will be a “feel-out meeting.”

Trump said a future meeting could also involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, or include both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

White House official told reporters that Trump remained open to a summit with both leaders.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said it was still possible that Zelensky could attend Friday’s meeting in Alaska.

“The decision is going to be made by President Trump,” Whitaker said. “There’s still time to make that decision.”

Trump and Putin are due to meet in Alaska on Friday

He claimed that he could know within two minutes of meeting Putin whether progress was possible.

Trump announced the meeting with Putin last Friday the day of his self-imposed deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face more US sanctions.

Zelensky said any agreements without input from Kyiv would amount to “dead decisions” in response to news of the Alaska summit between Putin and Trump,