Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says that peace negotiations in Alaska between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could be “a positive step forward.”
“If, in fact, an agreement can be negotiated which does not compromise what the Ukrainians feel that they need, I think that’s a positive step forward. We all want to see an end to the bloodshed,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Dana Bash.
Trump and Putin are set to meet in Alaska on Aug. 15 to discuss a peace deal. The White House and NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker said it’s possible Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could also attend next week.
“The president remains open to a trilateral summit with both leaders. Right now, the White House is planning the bilateral meeting requested by President Putin,” a senior White House official told NewsNation’s Libbey Dean on Saturday.
Last week, Putin presented a ceasefire deal to the Trump administration that demanded land concessions in Eastern Ukraine in exchange for a halt in fighting.
“Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace,” Zelensky replied to the news in a post on the social platform X. “They will not achieve anything. These are stillborn decisions. They are unworkable decisions. And we all need real and genuine peace. Peace that people will respect.”
The talks in Alaska next week will discuss these land concessions, according to President Trump.
“You’re looking at territory that’s been fought over for three and a half years. A lot of Russians have died, a lot of Ukrainians. So we’re looking at that, but we’re actually to get some back and some swapping. It’s complicated. It’s actually — nothing easy. It’s very complicated. But we’re going to get some back. And we’re going to get some switched,” he said.
The Russian president has not been on U.S. soil since 2015 under the Obama administration, and direct talks have not been held since 2021 with former President Biden.
“Tens and tens and tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have been killed, people in Ukraine are suffering terribly, because this guy [Putin] wanted to start the largest war since World War II in Europe,” Sanders said when asked how he felt about Putin being on U.S. territory. “So, you know, I’m not a great fan of Vladimir Putin.”
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