Putin praises Trump's "efforts" to end the war in Ukraine and speaks of "lasting peace."
The statement comes after Trump threatened Putin's Russia if an agreement is not reached at the meeting between the leaders regarding the war in Ukraine.
247 - The administration of US President Donald Trump is making 'vigorous efforts' to 'end the fighting in Ukraine', Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday (14), according to the Sputnik news agency.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported that Putin held a meeting with members of Russia's top leadership, as well as representatives of the government and the presidential administration, in preparation for the upcoming Russia-US summit in Alaska, USA, scheduled for Friday (15).
“As everyone knows, [the Trump administration] is making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop hostilities, end the crisis, and reach agreements that are in the interest of all parties involved in this conflict. All this to create conditions for lasting peace between our countries, in Europe and in the world as a whole,” Putin said during the meeting.
The statements released by Sputnik echo calls from NATO allies for a "lasting peace" in Ukraine, even though Moscow has annexed Ukrainian regions, a fact not recognized by the Western military alliance and the Kiev regime.
Putin further added that he would inform the participants of today's meeting about the status of the negotiation process for an agreement on the Ukrainian issue and at what stage Russia and the United States are at.
On Wednesday (13), Trump made new threats, stating that Russia will face “serious consequences” if no agreement is reached on Ukraine after the meeting in Alaska.
Alaska, a symbolic place
Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov stated on Thursday that the fact that the meeting between the presidents is taking place near the burial site of Soviet pilots, in the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II, is symbolic.
“Near the military base where the negotiations will take place, nine Soviet pilots are buried in a memorial cemetery, as well as two military personnel and two civilians who died between 1942 and 1945 while transporting aircraft from the United States to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program. Therefore, the meeting will take place in a location of great historical importance, which reminds us of the military fraternity between the peoples of our countries. And this is especially symbolic in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany and militaristic Japan,” Ushakov told reporters.
