August 15, in Anchorage, Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at a press conference with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin said he believes the war in Ukraine wouldn’t have started in 2022 if Trump had been in office. He added, “I can confirm that.”
Putin said he had warned the U.S. government back in 2022 not to let the situation get worse. He also spoke positively about his relationship with Trump, calling it “businesslike and trustworthy.” Putin said their meeting in Alaska went well and could help lead to peace in Ukraine. He also talked about working together on economic issues and invited Trump to visit Moscow for another meeting.
Trump said he was glad to hear Putin agree that the war should never have happened. Both leaders said the meeting was useful and that they agreed on many things. However, they didn’t announce any peace deal or cease-fire. Trump said
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