Following his meeting with President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Vladimir Putin spoke to the press about the summit, outlining his views on the state of U.S.-Russia relations and the path forward for the war in Ukraine.
On U.S.-Russia Relations
Putin stated that U.S.-Russia relations have fallen to their “lowest point since the Cold War.” He emphasized that a personal meeting between the two leaders was “really overdue” in order to shift from confrontation to dialogue, which he believes is crucial for both countries and global stability.
On the War in Ukraine
The Russian president described the conflict as a “tragedy and a great pain,” stating that Russia is “sincerely interested” in bringing it to an end. However, he insisted that a “sustainable and long-term” solution requires the elimination of all the “root causes of the crisis.” He also called for Russia’s “legitimate concerns” to be addressed to restore a fair balance of security in Europe.
While he agreed with Trump that Ukraine’s security must be ensured, Putin warned Kyiv and European capitals against creating obstacles or attempting to “sabotage” any emerging progress.
On Future Cooperation
Putin expressed hope that the meeting would be a “starting point” for resolving the conflict and restoring “business-like, pragmatic relations” between the two nations. He highlighted the “enormous potential” for economic cooperation in areas like trade, energy, and technology.
He praised the “very good business-like and trusting contact” he established with Trump, adding that he believes this cooperation will help them end the conflict “the quicker the better.”
