Scared of Putin? On TV, Trump speaks on 'normal' trade with Russia, days before Alaska meet| Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump signaled openness to restoring “normal trade” with Russia if President Vladimir Putin shifts focus “toward business instead of war,” in a Monday media briefing in Washington, D.C. Praising Russia’s historical resilience in conflicts from Napoleon to Hitler, Trump said he expects his upcoming Alaska summit with Putin could go “good or bad,” but stressed his main goal is to end a war “that should have never happened.” Trump also floated the idea of placing Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “in a room” together — with or without himself present — to help resolve the conflict. The high-stakes meeting between Trump and Putin is set for this Friday in Alaska, with the world watching for potential breakthroughs or fresh tensions.