Rep. Adam Smith, a ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed low expectations for President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Smith criticized Trump’s low-balled expectations, citing conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Europe. He argued that Trump has not shown unity behind Ukraine to pressure Putin. Democrats have expressed concerns about Trump’s ability to hold Putin accountable for invading Ukraine in 2022. Trump backed out of secondary sanctions on the Kremlin and suggested Ukraine will likely need a “land swap” to end the war. Zelensky emphasized that he would not turn over the Donbas region in exchange for peace and urged Trump and Putin to add security guarantees to any proposed agreement to settle the war in Eastern Europe. Smith urged Trump to notify Putin that he must stay within set boundaries and stand up against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Putin and Trump will meet in Anchorage on Friday, with officials hopeful that talks will lead to a trilateral discussion that will accelerate towards a permanent ceasefire.
House Armed Services Democrat claims Trump has “lowballed expectations” regarding the Putin meeting. Huong Membership 2023
