Trump says Putin ready for deal ahead of Alaska talks

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in Washington, D.C., U.S., 13 August, 2025.
Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to make a deal, suggesting that the threat of sanctions helped push Moscow toward seeking direct talks.

"He's, he really, I believe now, he's convinced that he's going to make a deal, he's going to make a deal. I think he's going to, and we're going to find out," Trump said in an interview on Fox News Radio's "The Brian Kilmeade Show".

Trump is set to meet Putin in Alaska on Friday and said while it remains uncertain whether an immediate ceasefire can be reached, he is interested in brokering a peace agreement.

Earlier in the day, Putin said Washington was making 'sincere efforts' to end the war in Ukraine and proposed that the United States and Russia could reach a nuclear arms deal as part of wider peace efforts.

Trump also revealed he has three potential locations in mind for a follow-up meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although he cautioned that a second meeting is not certain.

“Depending on what happens with my meeting, I’m going to be calling up President Zelenskyy, and let’s get him over to wherever we’re going to meet,” he added.

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