Trump says he's seeking 'immediate peace deal' with Putin rather than ceasefire

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump said Thursday he is more focused on achieving an immediate peace deal than a ceasefire when he meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the US state of Alaska on Friday to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war.

"I don't know that we're going to get an immediate ceasefire, but I think it's going to come," Trump told Fox Radio, adding: "I'm more interested in (an) immediate peace deal, getting peace fast."

Trump indicated he might call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a follow-up meeting depending on Friday's outcome, saying there were three possible locations including perhaps remaining in Alaska but did not name the other two.

Pressed about notifying Zelenskyy "to be ready to come" to a meeting, Trump declined to confirm plans for a second meeting and said it "would be certainly convenient if we had a very good meeting" with Putin.

He emphasized his role would be facilitating rather than directing negotiations. "I'm going to let them negotiate their deal. I'm not going to negotiate their deal," he said.

The Alaska summit, set for Friday, aims to address the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fourth year.