Will Trump's Alaska Meeting with Putin Succeed?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trump estimates a 25% chance of meeting failure.
- The meeting is crucial for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Future discussions may include Ukrainian President Zelensky.
- Trump warns of severe consequences if no ceasefire is agreed upon.
- Expectations for the meeting remain high despite differing perspectives.
Washington, Aug 15 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has assessed that his forthcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska carries a 25 percent likelihood of not achieving success.
During an interview with Fox News Radio, Trump expressed on Thursday that this summit with Putin resembles a chess game, emphasizing that he believes Putin is coming with the goal of making strides towards a resolution regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He remarked that if positive outcomes occur during their discussion, it could set the stage for a subsequent meeting that would also involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
On Wednesday, Trump cautioned that Russia could face serious repercussions if Putin declines to agree to a ceasefire amidst the ongoing tensions with Ukraine.
The Putin-Trump meeting is scheduled for Friday in Anchorage, Alaska.
Trump also conveyed his belief that Putin is approaching the summit with the intention of finalizing a deal to conclude the war in Ukraine.
"I believe he's now convinced that he will strike a deal. He's going to make a deal. I think he will, and we'll find out soon — I'll know very quickly," Trump stated during his appearance on Fox Radio on Thursday morning.
The President maintained high expectations for the meeting, despite earlier comments from White House officials who characterized the face-to-face interaction as merely a listening exercise.
Trump hinted at his ambition to progress towards a trilateral meeting with President Zelensky, proposing that "three different locations" are being considered — including the option of "remaining in Alaska".
However, Trump provided a crucial disclaimer: "If it turns out to be a bad meeting, I won't be calling anyone — I'm heading home. But if it goes well, I'll be reaching out to President Zelensky and European leaders."
When asked if he would offer economic incentives to Russia during the meeting, Trump remained non-committal.
"Well, I’d prefer not to disclose that publicly, but whatever strategy I have, economic incentives — and perhaps disincentives — are significant, but economically beneficial incentives are key," he added.