Trump says he’ll ‘really feel out’ Putin on ending Ukraine conflict : NPR

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures North America President Trump mentioned on Monday that he plans to make use of a Friday summit in Alaska to gauge whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin is able to finish his conflict on Ukraine — and mentioned he'd been dissatisfied prior to now in Putin's actions.

"That is actually a feel-out assembly, a bit of bit," Trump informed reporters, predicting he would know "most likely within the first two minutes" whether or not a deal could be potential.

"I could say, 'Numerous luck, preserve preventing.' Or I could say, 'We are able to make a deal,'" Trump mentioned.

Trump has lengthy pledged to make use of his relationship with Putin to dealer an finish to the conflict, now in its fourth 12 months.

However Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies are involved that Putin will press to take over giant swaths of Ukrainian sovereign territory. Trump confirmed that he believes there shall be "some land-swapping" concerned in any potential deal.

"Russia has occupied a giant portion of Ukraine. They've occupied some very prime territory. We will attempt to get a few of that territory again for Ukraine," Trump mentioned on Monday.

European leaders are calling on Trump to seek the advice of carefully with Zelenskyy forward of the assembly. Trump mentioned he would speak with the Ukrainian president and European allies each earlier than and instantly after the summit.

"I am speaking to the European leaders. I will be speaking to President Zelenskyy. I will get everyone's concepts. I'm going into that factor — absolutely loaded — proper up there — and we will see what occurs," he mentioned.

The upcoming assembly is the primary time Trump and Putin have met head to head since 2019. He mentioned mentioned the subsequent step needs to be for Zelenskyy and Putin to satisfy in individual. "I will be there in the event that they want, however I wish to have a gathering arrange between the 2 leaders."