Trump says ahead of Putin meeting: 'I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine'

President Trump said Friday ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine."

“Vladimir Putin wanted to take all of Ukraine. If I wasn’t president, he would right now be taking all of Ukraine,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Alaska to meet with Putin, according to The Hill newspaper. “But he’s not going to do it.”

When asked whether Ukraine and Russian swapping territory to end their roughly three-year-long war was a possibility, Trump said it was up to Ukraine.

“They’ll be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision. And I think they’ll make a proper decision. But I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I’m here to get them at a table,” he said. 

Regarding Ukrainian reports that Russia continued strikes in the hours before the meeting, Trump said, “I think they’re trying to negotiate. He’s trying to set a stage. I mean, in his mind, that helps him make a better deal. It actually hurts him. But in his mind, that helps him make a better deal. I’ll be talking to him about it.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be at the U.S.-Russia meeting, but Trump has suggested a follow-up with both leaders.