A day ahead of Alaska summit, Trump and Putin prioritize Ukraine resolution amidst contrasting agendas

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A day ahead of Friday's summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, both leaders have contrasting priorities regarding the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.

Our Moon Ji-young explains more.

The summit between President Trump and President Putin in Alaska comes as the international community watches closely for any potential breakthrough in the war in Ukraine.

While President Putin has consistently affirmed Russia's objective is to secure Ukrainian territory, President Trump has made his aspirations clear: to emerge as a global peacemaker.

"We have a meeting with President Putin tomorrow. I think it's going to be a good meeting. But the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we're having.and maybe we'll bring some of the European leaders along.I would say that tomorrow all I want to do is set the table for the next meeting, which should happen shortly."

The Kremlin announced on Thursday that the main topic of the summit would be resolving the war in Ukraine.

President Putin commented on President Trump's efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, noting they were "quite energetic and sincere," during a meeting with senior Russian officials.

This remark has been interpreted by some, including Bloomberg, as part of a "flattery strategy" that has previously proven effective with Trump.

Putin also expressed Russia's willingness to engage in discussions for a new arms control treaty with the U.S. This signals a shift from Moscow's prior hard-line stance, which saw Russia declare its non-participation in extending the New START treaty, set to expire in February next year, and withdrawing its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Adding to Russia's ongoing diplomatic outreach, the chief of its parliamentary lower house met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang on Thursday, conveying greetings from President Putin, according to TASS.

Moon Ji-young. Arirang News.