Trump Issues ‘High Stakes!’ Message Before Alaska Summit with Putin

Former US President Donald Trump signaled the high importance of his upcoming face-to-face talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The summit, scheduled for August 15 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, is expected to significantly impact the ongoing war in Ukraine and the broader European security landscape. Trump, in a Truth Social post, used the phrase “High Stakes!” to emphasize the meeting’s significance, shortly before departing for Alaska. Prior to the summit, Trump expressed his belief that Putin is now prepared to pursue peace. When questioned about potential incentives, such as access to rare minerals, to encourage an end to the conflict, Trump stated that the specifics would be discussed during their meeting, highlighting its importance for both Russia and the US. He emphasized the potential to save numerous lives, with plans for a subsequent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and potentially European leaders, which he considered even more crucial than the initial discussion.