President Donald Trump on Monday revealed a two-pronged approach in his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, covering both immediate security guarantees for Ukraine and future nuclear arms control.
The first prong was a recent phone call with Putin, which occurred after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders on August 18. This conversation focused on a framework for Ukraine’s security.
In these talks, Trump has advocated for a model where Europe takes the lead. He stated that the U.S. would provide “backup,” but the primary responsibility would lie with Ukraine’s neighbors.
The second prong was revealed to be an earlier, in-person meeting in Alaska on August 15. In that discussion, Trump and Putin explored a post-Ukraine war scenario that could include mutual reductions in their vast nuclear arsenals.
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