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Trump Prioritizes Diplomacy With Russia But Signals Openness to Economic Pressure
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US President Donald Trump prefers diplomacy over new sanctions on Russia in his efforts to end the war in Ukraine but is prepared to ramp up economic pressure on Moscow if necessary, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on August 14.
Leavitt's comments came just a day before Trump's highly anticipated meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where the two leaders are expected to discuss a potential path to end the war. This summit will mark Putin's first visit to the US in a decade.
"What happens after that meeting is up to President Trump," Leavitt told Fox News. "He wants to sit down and look the Russian president in the eyes and see what progress can be made."
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While Trump is committed to diplomacy, Leavitt noted that the president has other tools at his disposal, including sanctions and economic measures, should he choose to escalate the situation.
"Not that he wants to... diplomacy and negotiation have always been the way for this president," she said.
Previously, Donald Trump said there’s a “very good chance” he will meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin for a second time after their scheduled summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday.
Speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Trump explained that the follow-up meeting could occur “almost immediately” if the first one proves productive.
According to The Telegraph, US President Donald Trump is preparing to offer Russian leader Vladimir Putin a series of economic incentives to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
These proposals will be presented during their anticipated meeting. Trump’s offer to Putin includes access to Alaska’s rich natural resources, lifting some sanctions on Russia’s aviation industry, and providing access to the rare earth minerals in Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russian forces.
