The U.S. NATO ambassador, Matthew Whitaker, emphasized that President Trump should adopt a “trust but verify” approach regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting held in Alaska on Friday.
In an interview with CNN, Whitaker expressed some relief about the possibility of reaching agreements among world leaders, stressing the importance of ensuring that both Russia and Ukraine are actively pursuing peace, not just discussing it.
“Given the competing national interests—whether it’s the U.S., Ukraine, Russia, or our allies—you can’t take things at face value; you have to watch what they do,” he noted.
Putin is set to negotiate ceasefire terms with Trump in Alaska, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has yet to receive an invitation, although both the White House and Whitaker indicated that could change.
“The president is open to a trilateral summit involving both leaders,” a senior official relayed to News Nation’s Libby Dean over the weekend.
Last week, Putin approached the Trump administration proposing land concessions in eastern Ukraine as part of a peace agreement.
However, Zelensky firmly rejected that proposal, asserting on social media, “A decision made without Ukraine is, at the same time, a choice against peace. They’ll achieve nothing.”
Trump has claimed he could resolve the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours during his presidential campaign, yet negotiations have proven to be more complex than anticipated.
“One of the things President Trump mentioned is that he would have a productive conversation with Vladimir Putin. Yet, that night, major Ukrainian cities were targeted by rockets and drones—so that speaks to the reality of the situation,” Whitaker commented.
Initially, Trump suggested an August 8 deadline for a ceasefire and hinted at imposing further sanctions on Russia; however, there has been no sign that Moscow has curtailed its military efforts.
Tensions rose following Trump’s criticisms when Putin launched a significant attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, on July 10th.
“If we’re looking for the truth, there’s a lot of deception coming from Putin,” Trump remarked during a Cabinet meeting in July. “He’s always treated us nicely, but it turned out to be ineffective.”
This week, Trump touted his negotiation skills, highlighting a recent contract he brokered between Armenia and Azerbaijan, along with other peace initiatives he’s engaged in with global leaders in recent months.
Whitaker also noted that in all of Trump’s peace negotiations—such as those involving India and Pakistan, and the Congo and Rwanda—verification has always been a crucial element.
