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Trump, Putin Set Stage Ahead of Alaska Summit on Ukraine War

Trump, Putin Set Stage Ahead of Alaska Summit on Ukraine War

WASHINGTON – Today, President Trump and Vladimir Putin are meeting face-to-face in Anchorage, Alaska. The goal is to bring warring Russia and Ukraine together and usher in an end to the years-long conflict. 

Ahead of the summit, both men set the stage. 

Putin praised Trump for his “energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities” and “reach agreements.” He also said the meeting could include discussions on a potential nuclear arms deal. 

In Washington, Trump didn’t rule out that topic but said his focus would be on ending the war. 

“I think that President Putin would like to see a deal. I think if I weren’t president, he would take over all of Ukraine,” he told reporters Thursday. “But I am president, and he’s not going to mess around with me.”

Still, Trump believes there’s a 25 percent chance these talks could fail, and if that happens has promised “severe consequences” for the Kremlin. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not invited to the meeting. He believes Putin is bluffing as Russian forces push to gain more territory in Ukraine ahead of any agreement. 

President Trump hopes this meeting will lead to another that includes both sides in the coming days. 

“All I want to do is set the table for the next meeting, which should happen shortly,” said Trump. “I’d like to see it happen very quickly, very shortly after this meeting. I’d like to see it happen, maybe in Alaska, where we just stayed, because it’s so much easier.”

Trump left Washington early Friday morning. The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. Alaska time at a U.S. military base, and will be followed by a bilateral lunch and then a joint news conference. 

 

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Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of 11 warships set to be delivered to the Australian navy under a landmark $7bn defence deal, as the two close US allies in the Asia Pacific region deepen defence cooperation.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro made the announcement in Melbourne on Saturday at the signing ceremony for the Mogami-class warships.

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The “Mogami Memorandum” pledges to deepen military ties, including through “closer industrial cooperation” in defence.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build three of the stealth frigates in southern Nagasaki Prefecture, while Australia’s Austal will build eight in Western Australia.

The first of the Japanese-built warships is scheduled to be delivered in 2029 and enter service in 2030.

“Our surface fleet is more important than at any time in decades,” Marles said in a statement.

“These general-purpose frigates will help secure our maritime trade routes and northern approaches as part of a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet.”

Shinjiro said closer defence coordination was becoming more important as Australia and Japan faced an “increasingly severe security environment”.

Australia’s government last year announced that it had chosen Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build its fleet of next-generation warships, following a bidding war between the Tokyo-based firm and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp.

Australia has committed to a record $305bn in military spending over the next decade, as part of a widespread defence overhaul aimed at boosting the country’s naval power to levels not seen since World War II.

Under the plans, Canberra’s defence spending is set to rise to 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 3033, from about 2 percent now.

Australia and Japan, two of the United States’ closest allies, have ramped up military cooperation in recent years amid shared concerns about shifts in the regional security environment, particularly China’s rising influence. Tokyo and Canberra are also members of the Quad security bloc led by the US.

#Australia #Japan #sign #contracts #7bn #warships #dealEconomy, News, Business and Economy, Military, Asia Pacific, Australia">Australia and Japan sign contracts for bn warships dealDefence deal is latest example of deepening ties between Canberra and Tokyo amid shared concerns over China’s rise.Published On 19 Apr 202619 Apr 2026Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of 11 warships set to be delivered to the Australian navy under a landmark bn defence deal, as the two close US allies in the Asia Pacific region deepen defence cooperation.Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro made the announcement in Melbourne on Saturday at the signing ceremony for the Mogami-class warships.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe “Mogami Memorandum” pledges to deepen military ties, including through “closer industrial cooperation” in defence.Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build three of the stealth frigates in southern Nagasaki Prefecture, while Australia’s Austal will build eight in Western Australia.The first of the Japanese-built warships is scheduled to be delivered in 2029 and enter service in 2030.“Our surface fleet is more important than at any time in decades,” Marles said in a statement.“These general-purpose frigates will help secure our maritime trade routes and northern approaches as part of a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet.”Shinjiro said closer defence coordination was becoming more important as Australia and Japan faced an “increasingly severe security environment”.Australia’s government last year announced that it had chosen Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build its fleet of next-generation warships, following a bidding war between the Tokyo-based firm and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp.Australia has committed to a record 5bn in military spending over the next decade, as part of a widespread defence overhaul aimed at boosting the country’s naval power to levels not seen since World War II.Under the plans, Canberra’s defence spending is set to rise to 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 3033, from about 2 percent now.Australia and Japan, two of the United States’ closest allies, have ramped up military cooperation in recent years amid shared concerns about shifts in the regional security environment, particularly China’s rising influence. Tokyo and Canberra are also members of the Quad security bloc led by the US.#Australia #Japan #sign #contracts #7bn #warships #dealEconomy, News, Business and Economy, Military, Asia Pacific, Australia

Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of 11 warships set to be delivered to the Australian navy under a landmark $7bn defence deal, as the two close US allies in the Asia Pacific region deepen defence cooperation.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro made the announcement in Melbourne on Saturday at the signing ceremony for the Mogami-class warships.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 itemsend of list

The “Mogami Memorandum” pledges to deepen military ties, including through “closer industrial cooperation” in defence.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build three of the stealth frigates in southern Nagasaki Prefecture, while Australia’s Austal will build eight in Western Australia.

The first of the Japanese-built warships is scheduled to be delivered in 2029 and enter service in 2030.

“Our surface fleet is more important than at any time in decades,” Marles said in a statement.

“These general-purpose frigates will help secure our maritime trade routes and northern approaches as part of a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet.”

Shinjiro said closer defence coordination was becoming more important as Australia and Japan faced an “increasingly severe security environment”.

Australia’s government last year announced that it had chosen Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build its fleet of next-generation warships, following a bidding war between the Tokyo-based firm and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp.

Australia has committed to a record $305bn in military spending over the next decade, as part of a widespread defence overhaul aimed at boosting the country’s naval power to levels not seen since World War II.

Under the plans, Canberra’s defence spending is set to rise to 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 3033, from about 2 percent now.

Australia and Japan, two of the United States’ closest allies, have ramped up military cooperation in recent years amid shared concerns about shifts in the regional security environment, particularly China’s rising influence. Tokyo and Canberra are also members of the Quad security bloc led by the US.

#Australia #Japan #sign #contracts #7bn #warships #dealEconomy, News, Business and Economy, Military, Asia Pacific, Australia">Australia and Japan sign contracts for $7bn warships deal

Defence deal is latest example of deepening ties between Canberra and Tokyo amid shared concerns over China’s rise.

Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of 11 warships set to be delivered to the Australian navy under a landmark $7bn defence deal, as the two close US allies in the Asia Pacific region deepen defence cooperation.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro made the announcement in Melbourne on Saturday at the signing ceremony for the Mogami-class warships.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 itemsend of list

The “Mogami Memorandum” pledges to deepen military ties, including through “closer industrial cooperation” in defence.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build three of the stealth frigates in southern Nagasaki Prefecture, while Australia’s Austal will build eight in Western Australia.

The first of the Japanese-built warships is scheduled to be delivered in 2029 and enter service in 2030.

“Our surface fleet is more important than at any time in decades,” Marles said in a statement.

“These general-purpose frigates will help secure our maritime trade routes and northern approaches as part of a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet.”

Shinjiro said closer defence coordination was becoming more important as Australia and Japan faced an “increasingly severe security environment”.

Australia’s government last year announced that it had chosen Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build its fleet of next-generation warships, following a bidding war between the Tokyo-based firm and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp.

Australia has committed to a record $305bn in military spending over the next decade, as part of a widespread defence overhaul aimed at boosting the country’s naval power to levels not seen since World War II.

Under the plans, Canberra’s defence spending is set to rise to 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 3033, from about 2 percent now.

Australia and Japan, two of the United States’ closest allies, have ramped up military cooperation in recent years amid shared concerns about shifts in the regional security environment, particularly China’s rising influence. Tokyo and Canberra are also members of the Quad security bloc led by the US.

#Australia #Japan #sign #contracts #7bn #warships #dealEconomy, News, Business and Economy, Military, Asia Pacific, Australia

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