Trump: Meeting with Putin could also go poorly

U.S. President Donald Trump announced at a press conference that a "public safety emergency" has been declared in the capital, Washington D.C. Claiming that Washington D.C. has been taken over by "gangs, drug addicts, and the homeless," Trump stated, "Today is liberation day in Washington D.C. We are taking our capital back."

Invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to place local police under federal control, Trump announced that the National Guard would be deployed to the capital. Stating that he hopes cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago will follow this step, Trump said, "They must take steps to clean themselves up," adding that similar federal interventions could be carried out in other cities if necessary.

"I WILL GET BOTH LEADERS TO THE TABLE"

During the meeting, Trump also touched upon his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Stating that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the parameters of a peace agreement, Trump said, "I will meet with Putin to discuss what the parameters of a peace agreement will be before I speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders."

When asked, "Will you make a deal in the meeting with Putin?" Trump replied, "I won't make a deal. It's not up to me to make a deal. I want Putin and Zelenskyy to attend the next meeting. Ultimately, I will put them both in a room. I will be there or I won't, and I think the problem will be solved. I will get both leaders to the table."

"I WILL FIND OUT FOR SURE"

Emphasizing that the most suitable environment for ending the war is for the two leaders to come face-to-face, Trump said, "We will have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, and by the end of the meeting, probably within the first two minutes, I will find out for sure whether a deal can be reached or not. Because that's what I do. Making deals is my business."

Describing Putin coming to the U.S. for the meeting in Alaska as a "respectful gesture," Trump said he would convey the message "It is time for this war to end" to Putin during the meeting. Expressing that border changes and land swaps could be on the agenda in a potential peace agreement, Trump said, "Good things for Ukraine, not bad things. But some regions are in Russia's hands. They have most of the coastline. In real estate, the most valuable areas are waterfronts. Russia has a very valuable piece of land. I thought about what would happen if Putin turned to trade instead of war. You know, they are a warrior nation. That's what they do. They fight a lot."

Reminding that Ukraine had a thousand-mile-long coastline before the war, Trump said, "We will work to get some of these regions back."

"MY MEETING WITH PUTIN COULD ALSO GO POORLY"

When asked if there would be a normalization of trade relations between the U.S. and Russia if things go well in his meeting with Putin, Trump replied, "Yes, that's it." Emphasizing that ending the war would positively affect U.S.-Russia relations and increase trade potential, Trump said, "I think the meeting with Putin will go well, but it could also go poorly. I came here for one reason, to end a war that someone else started, a war that should never have happened, and if I can end it, that would be great. It's a complicated war, too much blood has been spilled."

"PUTIN WANTS ALL OF UKRAINE"

Speaking clearly about Putin's goals, Trump said, "I am one of those who believe that Putin wants all of Ukraine. During my own presidency, Russia had no territorial gains."

Stating that the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden gave Russia a huge gift by not blocking the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project, Trump recalled that he had imposed sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which he described as the largest economic development project Russia has ever built.

Trump stated that he would contact European Union and NATO leaders after the meeting with Putin, and that he would also give priority to Zelenskyy "out of respect," adding, "I want to see a very quick ceasefire. European leaders also want this war to end. They trust me. If it weren't for me, this problem wouldn't be solved until the last person died."

Touching upon the trade negotiations that began after tariffs with China and are still ongoing, Trump stated that the current tariffs could be extended, saying, "We will see what happens. They are managing quite well. Our relations with President Xi are very good."

News Source: İHA