Trump slams critics over planned meeting with Putin
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump lashed out at the media for publishing negative reports about his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump labeled them as "fake news."
In particular, Trump stated that "very unfair media" are covering his upcoming meeting with Putin. According to Trump, they are quoting "fired losers and really dumb people" — among whom the president included his former advisor John Bolton.
"Constantly quoting fired losers and really dumb people like John Bolton, who just said that, even though the meeting is on American soil, 'Putin has already won,'" he wrote.
Trump added that it is the United States that is supposedly "winning on everything." Media outlets that criticize the president and his plans to meet with Putin are "fake news," and those who criticize the meeting are "sick and dishonest people."
"The Fake News is working overtime (No tax on overtime!). If I got Moscow and Leningrad free, as part of the deal with Russia, the Fake News would say that I made a bad deal!...They are sick and dishonest people, who probably hate our Country. But it doesn't matter because we are winning on everything!" wrote the US president.
Earlier, Trump made a statement about his upcoming conversation with European leaders. He claims they support his plans to achieve peace in Ukraine.
According to sources, Trump's videoconference with Zelenskyy and European leaders is scheduled to begin today at 3:00 PM Kyiv time. After that, the US president will hold separate talks with the European leaders.
Trump and Putin to meet in Alaska
Trump and Putin will meet on American soil in Alaska this Friday, August 15. This summit will focus on the war in Ukraine but will take place without the direct participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Putin may present Trump with an ultimatum at the meeting — to recognize the occupied territories of Ukraine as Russian in exchange for the withdrawal of Russian troops from other regions and areas.
In response, the leaders of EU countries and Ukraine have put forward their own counterproposal for a peaceful resolution ahead of the negotiations between the American and Russian leaders. Overall, there are strong concerns in Ukraine and Europe that Putin may influence Trump during the meeting and shift his stance toward Ukraine and Europe.
