In a tense moment aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump made it clear that he will not hesitate to leave the table if his historic meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska goes badly.
Speaking to Fox News anchor Bret Baier, Trump predicted the meeting would “work out very well,” but warned that if it didn’t, he would “head back home real fast.”
“I would walk, yeah,” Trump said firmly when pressed on whether he would leave the talks if things went south.
Later, Trump posted another video from the presidential plane. In it, he was asked by reporters what would make the summit a success. His answer was direct and emotional:
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“I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today. I’m in this to stop the killing.”
This meeting is historic for many reasons. It’s the first time in ten years that Vladimir Putin is setting foot on U.S. soil. The talks are taking place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, a location chosen for both security and symbolism.
For Trump, this is more than just another diplomatic event. He sees it as a chance to cement his legacy as a peacemaker, potentially ending Moscow’s long and bloody war in Ukraine.
For Putin, the meeting is a strategic opportunity. Despite his reluctance to talk directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin may use this chance to reset Russia’s global image and test Trump’s willingness to compromise.
Notably, Ukraine’s leader has not been invited to the first round of talks. Trump, however, has hinted that Zelenskyy could join a “second round” of negotiations if progress is made in Alaska.
This raises a crucial question: will there even be a second meeting after Alaska? Or will this be a one-shot gamble with no follow-up?
To guide him, Trump has called in one of NATO’s top military minds. General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, has flown to Alaska to provide military advice to both Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to a senior NATO official speaking to the Associated Press, Grynkewich is there “to provide military advice as President Trump tries to bring this war to a peaceful close.”
Grynkewich is known for his strong support of Ukraine. He sees Russia as a major threat to European security and has been vocal about the urgent need to get military aid to Kyiv.
His presence in Alaska could reassure European allies, many of whom have been urging Trump to take a tough stance against Putin and avoid making any deal that would harm Ukraine’s position.
In recent weeks, European leaders have been working behind the scenes to ensure Trump does not negotiate “over Kyiv’s head”, a phrase diplomats use to warn against making peace without Ukraine’s full involvement.
For Trump, the stakes are personal as well as political. A ceasefire in Ukraine would be a major foreign policy victory, strengthening his hand both at home and abroad.
For Putin, the challenge is deciding whether to offer enough concessions to satisfy Trump without weakening his own power.
For the world, the outcome could determine whether the war in Ukraine moves toward peace, or sinks deeper into violence.
All eyes are now on Alaska. The runway is set, the cameras are ready, and two of the most powerful men in the world are about to test each other’s limits.
Whether this meeting ends with a handshake or a walkout remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the stakes could not be higher.
