
Trump aiming for ceasefire, world awaiting news from Putin summit
President Donald Trump is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska Friday in the hopes of negotiating a ceasefire or initial steps toward peace in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Though the presidents’ greeting was streamed live on the White House YouTube channel, the press has not yet been able to ask questions of the world leaders after they arrived. The presidents sat with their delegations in front of a backdrop that read “Pursuing Peace.”
At the start of the week, though Trump repeatedly said he is eager for the two countries to arrive at a peaceful solution, the president’s main goal for the meeting appeared to be “feeling out” Putin’s attitude toward peace and gathering information, based on comments he and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made in press briefings.
As the week progressed, the president said he wouldn’t be happy if a ceasefire weren’t achieved, but he also hasn’t been making guarantees as to the meeting’s outcome.
“What will make a success of this summit today?” a reporter asked Trump en route to Alaska on AirForce One.
“I can’t tell you that. I don’t know,” Trump said. “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 want the killing to stop,” he said.
Reuters reported Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying the same thing on Thursday.
“I think the President’s hope is to achieve some stoppage of fighting so that those conversations can happen,” Rubio reportedly told the media at the State Department Thursday.
This is a developing story.
Latest News Stories

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker sends bill back to legislature; cannabis loans announced

Dem, GOP candidates begin signature-gathering for 2026

Attorney argues IL should honor TX warrants for absconding Dems

WATCH: Legislators urge return to capitol to deal with increasing Illinois energy costs

WATCH: Homeland Secretary: Pritzker, Johnson are protecting dangerous criminals

Illinois in focus: DHS announces new facility; NFIB urges veto of regulations; minority scholarship lawsuit moves forward

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Friday Aug. 8th, 2025

Legislator urges leaders to focus on relief for Illinois’ high property taxes

Texas House, Illinois state senator sue 33 AWOL Democrats in Illinois court

Indiana Woman Identified as Victim in Fatal Wilmington-Peotone Road Crash

Multiple Agencies Rescue Person in Mental Health Crisis from Frankfort Pond

IT Consultant Urges Green Garden Township to Adopt Modern Cybersecurity Measures
