Won’t be happy if Russia-Ukraine ceasefire fails today: Trump before Alaska meet

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he wanted to see a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire “today” as he headed to Alaska for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two.

When asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today. I want the killing to stop.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not invited to the talks, and European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by freezing the conflict and informally recognising Russian control over one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Trump sought to allay concerns as he boarded Air Force One. “I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I’m here to get them at a table,” he said, adding that Ukraine would decide on any possible territorial swaps.

The US and Russian presidents are scheduled to meet at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska’s largest city at around 11 am local time for their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House. Trump hopes securing a truce in the 3-1/2-year-old war will strengthen his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.

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