Trump: Territorial exchanges with Russia up to Ukraine, U.S. aims to get sides to negotiating table

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stressed that decisions on territorial exchanges must be made in Kyiv.

“They [territorial swaps] will be discussed but I have got to let Ukraine make that decision. And I think they will make a proper decision but I am not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I'm here to get them into a table. And I think you have two sides,” Trump said, according to Reuters and Sky News.

When asked about possible U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, Trump ruled out NATO membership: “Not in the form of NATO because that's not going to, you know, there are certain things that aren't going to happen,” he said, adding that other guarantees might be possible with Europe, without elaborating.

On Russia’s ongoing strikes against Ukraine, Trump commented: “I think they're trying to negotiate. He's [Putin] trying to set a stage. In his mind, that helps him make a better deal. It actually hurts him, but in his mind that helps him make a better deal if they can continue the killing. Maybe it's a part of the world, maybe it's just his fabric, his genes, his genetics ... but I'll be talking to him about it.”

The president also warned of “serious consequences” for Putin if he is not interested in peace.

• The Trump-Putin summit in Anchorage has already sparked pro-Ukraine demonstrations. 
• Following the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to meet to discuss the outcome.