Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a striking new claim regarding the war in Ukraine, following a high-profile meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Putin said he would not have launched the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 if Trump had been in office at the time. The Russian leader referenced his 2022 discussions with President Joe Biden, saying he had tried to prevent hostilities from escalating.

Putin claimed that Trump is trying to understand the “roots of the Ukrainian conflict” and referred to Ukrainians as a “brotherly people.” He added that Russia remains interested in ending the war, but emphasized that “all root causes of the crisis must be eliminated” before peace can be achieved.

He also said Ukraine’s security “must certainly be ensured” and expressed readiness to work on this, while urging Kyiv and European capitals to approach negotiations constructively.

Earlier today, Trump and Putin met at a military base in Anchorage for nearly three hours. The “three-on-three” meeting was expected to be followed by a larger delegation session, but instead both leaders went directly to the press.

Before the meeting, Trump had expressed hope for “some form of ceasefire” in Ukraine, but no formal truce or agreement was announced following the discussions.

Putin’s comments mark a significant escalation in rhetoric, framing the Alaska talks as a potential path to peace, while reiterating Russia’s territorial and political interests in the conflict.

We will continue to follow this developing story from Alaska and its implications for Ukraine.

Reporting by Lisa Lomami.