An optimistic President Trump touted “a good level of respect” with Russia’s Vladimir Putin as he jetted to Alaska for a high-stakes Ukraine peace summit.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump sounded upbeat about the chances of a breakthrough that could pave the way to end the bloody 3-1/2 year war.
“We get along, there’s a good respect level on both sides,” Trump said. “I think something’s going to come of it.”
“He’s a smart guy, been doing it for a long time,” he added about Putin. “But so have I. I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
Trump repeated his stance that any final peace deal would have to be hammered out during face-to-face talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Asked whether he would discuss possible territorial swaps between Russian occupiers and Ukraine, T