US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would have taken control of all of Ukraine if he were not in office. His remarks came after a journalist asked whether Putin "has a strong hand tomorrow" as the Russian leader is set to travel to Alaska.
Trump described Putin's visit as a "big win for him" in the eyes of some observers, though he noted that interpretation is unusual, as it is typically the host, not the visitor, who is seen as holding the advantage.
He reiterated his belief that Putin "would like to see a deal," but claimed that without his presidency, Russia would have pursued a full takeover of Ukraine. Trump insisted that under his leadership, Putin "is not gonna mess around," framing his presence in the White House as a barrier to Moscow's ambitions.
