Trump LIVE: Putin shrugs as he's asked chilling question on Ukraine

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have met for the first time on American soil in 10 years on the runway of a US airbase in Alaska as the two men hold a historic summit to discuss the fate of the war in Ukraine. The leaders shook hands and smiled at one another before posing for pictures on the red carpet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

Reporters waiting to see the presidents fired a series of questions at them, one asked: "President Putin, will you stop killing civilians?". In a chilling response Putin shrugged and pointed to his ear, presumably making out he is not equipped with an ear piece for translations. Putin is not known to speak English during official meetings, preferring instead for a translator to be present, but he is known to be able to speak the language.

Trump and Putin have begun face-to-face talks in for a high-stakes summit that could determine the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and the fate of European security. Trump's allies have cast the US president as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the slaughter to a close, something he used to boast he could do quickly. For Putin, a summit with Trump offers a long-sought opportunity to try to negotiate a deal that would cement Russia's gains, block Kyiv's bid to join the NATO military alliance and eventually pull Ukraine back into Moscow's orbit.

There are significant risks for Trump. By bringing Putin onto US soil, the president is giving Russia's leader the validation he desires after his ostracisation following his invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago. Any success is far from assured, especially as Russia and Ukraine remain actively at war on the ground.

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