Russia fabricates alleged plot to derail Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska
Photo: Putin's Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev (Getty Images)
Russia has already started seeking excuses for a possible cancellation of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Specifically, the Kremlin is preemptively blaming unnamed "certain countries" for attempting to "disrupt the meeting," reports Sky News.
The statement was made by Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries. Dmitriev is considered the Russian counterpart to Trump’s Special Envoy Stephen Witkoff.
"Undoubtedly, a number of countries interested in continuing the conflict will make titanic efforts to disrupt the planned meeting between President Putin and President Trump," Dmitriev wrote.
He referenced Dan Caldwell in his post, a former advisor to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Caldwell was dismissed from the Pentagon for "unauthorized disclosure of information."
However, his dismissal did not stop Caldwell from continuing his favorite activity — spreading disinformation. The former advisor claimed there would be "coordinated efforts" to disrupt the meeting in Alaska. He did not specify which parties would undertake these efforts or clarify what he meant exactly.
Sky News added that Moscow often tries to portray itself and the US as being on the same side, since relations between them have changed since the start of Trump's second term.
Possible Trump-Putin negotiations
US President Donald Trump announced on August 8 that he would meet with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on August 15. The meeting is confirmed to take place in Alaska. Topics to be discussed will include the situation in Ukraine.
Hours earlier, Trump said a territorial swap between Ukraine and Russia might be possible.
Earlier media reports suggested that Putin told Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff he would agree to a complete ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew its troops from the Donetsk region.
However, according to Bild, Witkoff misunderstood Putin. The withdrawal also concerns Ukrainian troops in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Witkoff interpreted this as a Russian troop withdrawal.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin may issue an ultimatum during the meeting with Trump regarding Ukraine. He could demand recognition of occupied territories in exchange for withdrawing Russian troops from other areas.
Ukraine and Europe have made their own counterproposal in negotiations, rejecting Putin's demands.
