Speaking at a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is "quite sure" the war in Ukraine would not have begun had Trump been in office in 2022, adding, “I can confirm that.” The remark echoed Trump’s long-standing claim that Russia’s invasion could have been avoided under his leadership. Putin told reporters he had warned the previous U.S. administration in 2022 against allowing the crisis to reach "the point of no return" and praised his "businesslike and trustworthy" relationship with Trump. He said the talks in Alaska were constructive and could help "pave a path toward peace in Ukraine," while hinting at wider economic cooperation and inviting Trump to a follow-up meeting in Moscow. Trump welcomed the statement, saying he was "very happy" to hear Putin agree that the conflict "should never have happened." Although both leaders described their meeting as productive and said "many points were agreed," they announced no cease-fire or formal accord, with Trump cautioning that "there’s no deal until there’s a deal."