Trump demands immediate ceasefire ahead of Putin summit, says he won't be 'happy' if condition isn't met

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump said he is prepared to end talks quickly if the Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin does not yield progress.

The POTUS shared that securing a ceasefire would be the key measure of success, signaling urgency ahead of the meeting.

Trump outlines conditions for Alaska summit's success

In an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump said he was ready to leave the summit if it did not go well.

“I think it’s going to work out very well, and if it doesn’t, I’m going to head back home real fast,” Trump told host Bret Baier.

When asked if that meant he would walk away, Trump replied, “I would walk, yeah.”

Speaking to Fox Radio a day earlier, the commander-in-chief said, “If it’s a bad meeting, I’m not calling anybody — I’m going home. … But if it’s a good meeting, I’m going to call President Volodymyr Zelensky and the European leaders.”

While traveling on Air Force One, Trump posted a video on Truth Social calling for an immediate end to hostilities. “I want to see ceasefire rapidly,” he noted, adding, “I am not going to be happy if it’s not today.”

He said there was no fixed definition of success for the summit, but “I want certain things. I want to see a ceasefire.”

Trump praises 'smart guy' Putin’s business approach but ties it to war resolution

Ahead of his demand for a ceasefire, Donald Trump spoke positively about Vladimir Putin bringing Russian business leaders to the meeting.

“I noticed he’s bringing a lot of business people from Russia, and that’s good. I like that because they want to do business, but they’re not doing business until we get the war solved,” Trump said aboard Air Force One.

He added that if progress is made, he would be open to discussing economic cooperation.

“If we make progress, I would discuss it, because that’s one of the things that they would like; they’d like to get a piece of what I built in terms of the economy," Trump remarked.

The 79-year-old told reporters he expected “something” to come from the Alaska summit.

“Look, he’s a smart guy. Been doing it for a long time, but so have I. I’ve been doing it for a long time, and here we are: We’re president,” he said, adding, “We get along. There’s a good respect level on both sides, and I think, you know, something’s going to come of it." 

Trump also noted that the consequences for Russia if Putin doesn’t agree to end the war would be punishing. “Yes, it will be very severe,” he said of potential economic measures against Moscow.

Volodymyr Zelensky counts on America to end war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is counting on US support during the Trump-Putin talks.

“The key thing is that this meeting should open up a real path toward a just peace and a substantive discussion between leaders in a trilateral format – Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian side,” Zelensky wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America. We are ready, as always, to work as productively as possible,” he added. 

Internet split on Trump-Putin Alaska meeting

Reactions on the internet were divided. Some dismissed talks with Vladimir Putin as a pointless effort, while others praised Donald Trump as a peacemaker, hoping a ceasefire could be achieved.

“High stakes come with high confidence. Trump’s Alaska trip with Putin sounds like a gamble he’s ready to cash in—or walk away from,” one wrote on X.

Another posted, “Nothing says ‘high-stakes’ like a leader with a pre-planned rapid return strategy. Bret seems prepared for either outcome, especially the ‘real fast’ one.”

Others were blunt, with a person writing, “Get back to work, Putin is a waste of time! USA!” Another said, “He’s already making excuses for failure.”

One more user praised Trump, saying, “Man of peace. I love all he does. His policies are perfect.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.