"I’ll Know in 2 Minutes": Trump Signals High-Stakes Putin Meeting in Alaska Over Ukraine Peace Deal

In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic efforts, US President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska, aiming to explore a possible peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Speaking at a White House briefing on Monday, Trump claimed he would know within the first two minutes of the meeting whether a deal is possible.

“We’re going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin. And at the end of that meeting—probably in the first two minutes—I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,” Trump said.

Optimism Over Trade and Ceasefire

Trump voiced optimism about a potential trade revival between the US and Russia, saying that Russia could thrive if it focused on business instead of war. He described Russia as “a warring nation” and added:

“Russia has a very valuable piece of land. If Vladimir Putin went toward business instead of toward war… you’d see a very different world.”

He further expressed hope for a ceasefire in Ukraine, stating,

“I’d like to see the best deal that could be made for both parties. I’d like to see a ceasefire immediately.”

Sanctions and Tariffs: Trump’s Leverage

Trump highlighted that Russia’s struggling economy is partly due to the 50% tariff he imposed on countries purchasing oil from Russia.

“That was a big blow,” he said. “I was all set to do far more, but then I got a call from Putin saying he’d like to meet.”

He framed the Alaska summit as a “big deal”, suggesting the meeting could lead to broader peace efforts involving Ukraine and Europe.

Europe Watching Closely

Trump suggested European leaders are looking to him for leadership:

“They’re tired of it. They want to spend money on their own countries again… If it weren’t for me, this thing would never get solved until the last person breathing is dead.”

He added that he plans to brief NATO and EU leaders on any peace proposal and emphasized he would consult Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first “out of respect.”