U.S. President Trump (right) and Russian President Putin [File photo courtesy of AFP/Yonhap News. Redistribution and DB prohibited]

(Washington = Yonhap News) Correspondent Cho Jun-hyung — U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the 15th (local time) that if the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska proves successful, a trilateral summit involving the Ukrainian president will follow, where there will be "give-and-take negotiations" regarding the Russia-Ukraine territorial borders.

In an interview with Fox News Radio on the 14th, the day before the summit, President Trump remarked that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin would "set up the next meeting (a trilateral one involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy)," adding, "The second meeting will be very, very important because that will be the meeting where a deal is made."

Regarding a potential ceasefire or peace agreement in the Ukraine war that could be reached during a trilateral summit, President Trump stated, "I don't want to use the word 'distribute something,' but that's not a bad term," adding, "There will be some give-and-take regarding borders and land."

His remarks suggest that if he and President Putin reach a framework for a ceasefire or peace at their summit, a U.S.-Russia-Ukraine trilateral summit will follow, where negotiations will take place on incorporating some of the Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia since the 2022 invasion into Russian territory.

Regarding his outlook for the meeting with President Putin, President Trump said, "I believe he is convinced that he will make a deal now," and added, "I think he will make a deal."

However, he also added that "there is a 25 percent chance that this meeting will not be a successful one."

When asked by the host whether additional sanctions could be imposed on Russia, citing the fact that the U.S. Senate is currently deliberating a bill to impose high secondary tariffs on countries importing Russian products, President Trump replied, "If it is not resolved (referring to a ceasefire or peace agreement related to the Ukraine war), then of course."

When asked if he could offer economic incentives to Russia to secure a ceasefire, President Trump stated that both "economic sanctions" and "economic incentives" could serve as very powerful negotiation tools against Russia.

President Trump mentioned he has three potential venues in mind for the U.S.-Russia-Ukraine trilateral summit in the event that his meeting with Putin concludes successfully, stating that the easiest option would be to invite President Zelenskyy to Alaska for a follow-up meeting.

At the same time, President Trump emphasized, "I will not negotiate their (Russia and Ukraine's) deal," adding, "I will let them negotiate their own deal."

Furthermore, President Trump stated that as of now, he does not know whether there will be a joint press conference or a separate one following his meeting and lunch with President Putin, noting that a joint press conference might be a good idea.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had indicated in a Fox News interview that a joint press conference between the two leaders would be held, but President Trump's remarks suggest the matter has not yet been finalized.

Meanwhile, regarding Jimmy Lai, the former owner of the Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily (which shut down in 2021) who has been in detention for years, President Trump said, "We will see what we can do," and "I will do everything I can to save him."

jhcho@yna.co.kr

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