Zelenskyy’s team working to influence Trump ahead of Putin meeting – media

That’s according to a report by Axios.

The outlet writes Zelenskyy is downplaying Russia’s recent gains and holding talks with European and other world leaders to guard against an unfavorable outcome in Alaska 

It notes that the Ukrainian president and European leaders are concerned Trump could agree to Putin’s demands regarding the war in Ukraine on August 15.

Ukrainian official told Axios that at this point, no one knows what Trump wants to get from Putin on Friday and Ukraine doesn’t know what influence Ukrainian officials can have on Trump.

At the same time, U.S. officials say that if the president’s rhetoric sometimes sounds pro-Russian, it’s because he believes such public statements will help him strike a deal with the Kremlin.

An Axios source claims Trump is “angry at Putin.” According to the source, even if U.S. efforts to settle the war fail, Washington will continue selling weapons to NATO countries for Kyiv.

The source added the general view for several months has been that tomorrow we could cripple the Russian economy. There are more ways to destroy Ukraine. But if he had to choose a side, he’d start crippling the Russian economy.

Russia says its demands haven’t changed

Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Alexey Fadeyev said on August 13 that Moscow’s position on a settlement in Ukraine remains unchanged. Russia demands guarantees that Kyiv will not join NATO and recognition of Russian control over Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and annexed Crimea.

• Ukraine could end up in a situation where the U.S. completely cuts off military aid after Trump and Putin meet on August 15.