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Trump Says "Very Severe" Consequences If Putin Doesn't End War; Trump, Putin Land In Alaska Soon For Pivotal Summit; Russian FM Stirs Attention Wearing USSR Sweater To Alaska Summit. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired August 15, 2025 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR, INSIDE POLITICS: Welcome to Inside Politics. I'm Jake Tapper, in for Dana Bash. And I am reporting today live from Anchorage, Alaska, where in just two hours, President Trump will touch down for his historic summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The architect of that brutal war in Ukraine that President Trump vowed to end within the first 24 hours of his second term.

Today will be their very first face-to-face meeting in more than six years, and potentially the most consequential. President Trump seems keenly aware that war and peace, life and death literally hang in the balance.

Before leaving the White House this morning, the president posted this on social media. High stakes, with three explanation points, and aboard Air Force One. Earlier today, he was asked about Putin's forces continuing to launch attacks in Ukraine in just the last several hours. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (voiceover): I think they're trying to negotiate. He's trying to set a stage. 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, if they could continue the killing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You had said earlier this week that Putin would face severe consequences if you get the sense from him that he's not interested, what do you mean by that?

TRUMP (voiceover): Economically severe? Yes, it will be very severe. I'm not doing this for my health. OK, I don't need it. I'd like to focus on our country, but I'm doing this to save a lot of lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: It has been three years and five months and 22 days since Putin's Russia invaded Ukraine. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost. And CNN is covering today's summit from every angle. We have Kristen Holmes in here -- here with me in Anchorage, Alaska, Nick Paton Walsh is on the ground in Ukraine, Fred Pleitgen is in Moscow, Russia.

Kristen Holmes, let me start with you. What are you hearing from President Trump's team?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're cautiously optimistic. I think you can hear that in his rhetoric. He went from saying this was just a listening exercise to start saying he believes that the Russian president wants to make a deal. I mean, the thing to look at here is how different of a head space the president is this time, sitting down with Putin than he was the last time he did.

He has been really embarrassed by the way that this has played out, in terms of the fact that he promised that he would end this war in 24 or 48 hours. And the fact that he admittingly has been tapped along by the Russian president. Part of the reason he thought it would be so easy for him to end this war was because he thought he had a relationship with Vladimir Putin, and he's learning, like so many U.S. presidents before him, that he just, in fact, didn't.

TAPPER: Yeah. I mean, he thought that there was a special thing that they had and that that would end this war. And it turns out that Putin's love for a greater Soviet Union. He thinks the USSR falling is the biggest calamity of the 20th century, that matters a lot more to Putin.

HOLMES: It does. And I think you're seeing this play out on so many different levels here. One of course, we've heard President Trump say, he disappointed that he'll see what happens. Caveating a lot of the meeting, at times, saying, you know, if it goes well, we'll have a second meeting.

The other part of this is just the involvement you see President Trump having with our European allies. I mean, this is a man who, when he was running for president, was essentially saying that he wanted to disband NATO. He wanted nothing to do with our European allies. They're not paying enough money. He believes, and he has believed in the past that going it alone is the way to go.

Now you're seeing him having call after call with European leaders, trying to get European buy in on any kind of a deal. But also, in fact, on top of that, when he was talking about this next meeting that they might have with President Zelenskyy, even mentioned the European leaders being there as well. So, this is a very different place that he's in going into this than he's been in the past.

TAPPER: One of the last people Trump will have spoken with before the summit is one of Putin's top allies, the President of Belorussia or Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. Not a random phone call, I have to imagine.

HOLMES: No, it's not a random phone call. We don't know who initiated it. But I think there's a couple things going on here. One, of course, if you're a European leader, who's been trying to make sure that they are in Donald Trump's ear all the way up until that summit, to make sure that you're on the same page, the talking points. [12:05:00]

This is not something you want to see. You don't want to see that Putin's ally was talking to him on the plane here. But there is an aspect of this that might be more helpful to both sides, which is there aren't that many people who are talking to both President Trump and Vladimir Putin.

So, if you're trying to get suss out where each party stands, or if you are an ally of Putin, is to try to get a sense of where President Trump's head is at. You might turn to your ally, who could actually pick up the phone and call to get kind of an idea. And they both want to walk into this meeting and not be embarrassed at the end of it. They want to both try to claim victory, right? So, they're trying to suss out where the other person's head is at, going into the meeting as well.

TAPPER: Yeah. Fascinating stuff. Kristen Holmes, thank you so much. On his way to Alaska, Russian President Putin made a stop in eastern Europe -- eastern Russia. He is due to arrive in Anchorage shortly after President Trump.

CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in Moscow. Fred, what are we hearing from the Kremlin as President Putin is on route to Alaska?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. We're hearing from the Kremlin that Vladimir Putin is taking this meeting extremely seriously. And you're absolutely right. He made a stopover in a city called Magadan, which is on the eastern coast of Russia, say, about a four-hour flight away from Anchorage, Alaska, where you are.

And one of the interesting things actually that Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin was asked, is whether or not Vladimir Putin was going to be on time this time. And Peskov assured that reporter that Putin was taking off on time and will be in Alaska on time as well.

Of course, you recall, Jake, at the summit that President Trump held with Vladimir Putin in 2018 in Helsinki. Vladimir Putin kept the American president waiting for -- I think it was a little over an hour before actually landing in Helsinki. So, it seems as though that's not going to happen this time. President Vladimir Putin also laying flowers at a memorial for American and Soviet airmen who fought in World War II together.

So obviously, that also part of the messaging coming from the Kremlin, trying to placate the Trump administration, and then also, of course, trying to show the past of relations between the Soviet Union and the United States, especially in World War II.

As far as the summit itself is concerned, the Russians say they are aware of the fact that Ukraine is going to be the most -- by far, the most important topic in the room. The Russians say that they have good arguments, as they put it for their version and their view of things. But of course, as we've been saying, Jake, the Russians also saying that they would like this to be about more that there's other topics on the table.

Of course, sanctions relief being one of them, but then also the restoration of business relations between the U.S. and Russia. One of the things that, of course, President Trump noted is that the Russians have a lot of people who deal with business in their delegation as well. It's going to be interesting to see whether that topic gets broached at all, and what significance it is going to have at that summit, Jake?

TAPPER: And Fred, it's not often that we discuss the fashion choices of the Russian foreign minister. But here in Alaska, one couldn't help but observe that there he was, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, wearing a sweatshirt labeled CCCP, which is Cyrillic for USSR, clearly longing for the days of the Russian empire that no longer exists. What was your take on that?

PLEITGEN: Yeah. I mean, there's several takes on that. First of all, I can tell you that that video is all over Russian media as well. People are joking about it. To hear, making remarks about it as well. I guess there's several ways that you could be able to see this.

On the one hand, maybe it indicates Sergey Lavrov, possibly still living in the past, where the Soviet Union obviously was this gigantic country that had a lot of sway in world politics, or it could be the Russians saying, look, we're back on the international stage. We're back to being a semi superpower in the world like the Soviet Union was back in its day. It really is unclear.

I can tell you, though, that those sweaters actually are quite popular here in Russia. They've been ordered. Apparently, some of them have been ordered by the Russian foreign ministry. So, it seems as though, definitely not by coincidence, that Sergey Lavrov was wearing this, but this entire trip of the Russians out there to Alaska has been pulled -- full of signaling, full of messaging.

There was a senior Kremlin controlled media person from Russia today who came out that they and said that the journalists who were on the plane from Moscow to Alaska were served chicken Kiev on the flight. Now we have to say that chicken Kiev, chicken dish, that's very popular in the post-Soviet world and was very popular in the Soviet Union, not uncommon.

But of course, the messaging there is that the Russians are saying, look, we're eating the Ukrainians for breakfast by having this summit. So definitely a lot of trolling going on, on the Russian part around the summit, no doubt, Sergey Lavrov there with his sweater. And then also, as far as the food on the plane is concerned.

I am hearing, though, that the Russians not too happy with their accommodation in Alaska. There were some pictures that have been posted about people sleeping on cots inside a sporting hall there in Alaska.

TAPPER: Well, they should leave Moscow sometime and see what it's like. Fred Pleitgen in Moscow, thanks so much. Appreciate it. Now to Ukraine, a sovereign democracy whose future hinges on what is going to happen between Presidents Trump and Putin behind closed doors here in Anchorage.

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Today, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said his country is, quote, counting on America in this summit. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is in Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv right now for us. And Nick on the way to Alaska, President Trump emphasized that he's not here to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine. He says that Ukraine has to decide on whatever territorial swaps might happen. What is the response been in the capital of Ukraine to that?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I mean, there's great anxiety as to the exact nature of these talks. It's impossible, really, for Trump to have a negotiation and not raise the issue of land swaps. I think he's trying to pass the language there and suggest that any particular suggestions will be for Ukraine to make decisions about. But ultimately, there is significant concerns that Ukraine is not in the room, and Alaska is pretty much a venue as far away from this war as you could potentially choose.

Zelenskyy himself talking about high stakes, saying they're counting on America, but clear in his post day to remind everyone that there is an active war going on that he's sending reinforcements to near Pokrovsk, where Russians have made a limited but potentially significant breakthrough in recent days. He's receiving intelligence reports about Russia's ambitions in the days and weeks ahead.

Remember, they are making significant progress on the frontline, and many are basically concerned. As Trump has suggested himself, that we're seeing the United States being tapped along here to buy time for this offensive to take more ground.

And indeed, Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, pointed out that as well, that the reality on the ground is changing, that the very place Putin seems to have suggested to U.S. Special Envoy Steve Wycoff, might be part of some kind of deal. Donetsk region is increasingly slowly in Russian hands.

And in the last 24 hours, seven have been killed here in Ukraine by Russian strikes. Most recently, a bus being hit in the Donetsk area. Now we've seen less massive area assaults on Kyiv in the past weeks. But that doesn't mean that generally Russians aerial assault across the country has stopped.

They just appear to have eased off slightly here, perhaps it's because that seems to cause the greatest amount of offense to President Trump, but massive anxiety, frankly, here, and I think it's not lost on many when Lavrov wears that jumper, how offensive it is to a country that gained its independence. And also, to how the Soviet Union came to an end, essentially in another war of choice in Afghanistan, where they found themselves overstretched, Jake?

TAPPER: All right. Nick Paton Walsh in Kyiv, Ukraine. Thank you so much. Coming up. We have a NATO country that is now saying, it's ready to put boots on the ground in Ukraine. We're also have a former NATO supreme allied commander who's going to weigh in on that. That's next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:15:00]

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TAPPER: As Air Force One makes the transcontinental flight to Alaska. Western diplomats are telling CNN that they doubt this pending summit will lead to any significant breakthrough in Ukraine peace talks. One diplomat tells my colleague Matthew Chance that "we all believe the likelihood of significant progress toward peace is low. Where is the evidence that Putin is ready to come to the table?"

Joining us now to discuss Beth Sanner, a former Deputy Director of National Intelligence and General Philip Breedlove, who is the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander. Beth, let me start with you. You served as the deputy director of national intelligence under both Presidents Trump and former President Biden. What to you would a successful summit look like, realistically speaking, must it include at least a ceasefire deal?

BETH SANNER, FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Yeah. I think that we are in a position now where we're not going to see any real deal coming here, when Trump says, my whole goal here is to set up a second meeting. I think that's the best case scenario here, is that, actually not a lot is accomplished here, except for an agreement that would be a really beneficially would be a trilateral meeting.

I don't think Putin is going to agree to that, though. And so, I think that the way this is going to go is, it's kind of going to set up another meeting for Putin, allow him to escape any kind of penalty or sanctions or secondary tariffs or whatever. And you know, it'll be more about U.S., Russian relations at the expense, potentially, of Ukraine. So, you know, I have low expectations here for advancing the peace agreement, but we will see. We could be surprised.

TAPPER: General Breedlove, President Trump and President Putin are sitting down today without the president of Ukraine, as Beth just noted. What do you make of the fact that Ukraine is not in the room today? Does that calculation make sense in a larger way?

GEN. PHILIP BREEDLOVE (RET.), FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE: Well, Jake, thanks for having me on. We have always said that nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. So, we've broken our own rule, and that's why I'm actually thankful that the president has said we're going to need a new series of meetings where Ukraine is at the table that will get this in the appropriate context.

[12:20:00]

And to your previous question, the president has been real clear, he wants the killing to stop. So, I think the number one measure of success of today is that we have an immediate ceasefire. And if we don't have an immediate ceasefire, then we would hope to see an immediate application of sanctions, like at this meeting announced at this meeting, so ceasefire or sanctions today. TAPPER: General Breedlove, just this morning, the British defense minister said that the U.K. is ready to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, if Russia agrees to a ceasefire. President Trump now says there's a possibility that the U.S. will provide security guarantees for Ukraine along with Europe. How significant is that announcement from the U.K.?

BREEDLOVE: Very, very significant. And some of the words that the president has been using are very good. He has talked about ceasefires over the past week or so, but in the last day or two, he's also talking about peace. And we need to get off ceasefire, that benefits Russia in the end game and get to a peace agreement that has a peace enforcement mechanism, British boots on the ground, with say, U.S. air power or intelligence to back it up. That is an amazing start to that peace enforcement mechanism that we truly need.

TAPPER: And Beth, I can't help but being struck by how different this feels then 2018 when President Trump had the summit with Putin in Helsinki. I was covering it like I am today. You were in charge of delivering the president's daily brief at the time you worked for President Trump. And look, just to remind our viewers, he said this at the time.

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TRUMP: I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: The denial refers to Russia meddling in the 2016 election, which Putin denied. But the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Intelligence Community said that Putin was and Russia were interfering. Are you concerned at all that Putin will be able to snow, manipulate, charm, whatever you want to call, President Trump during their one-on-one?

SANNER: Well, thanks for giving me PTSD, Jake, that's great. But I, you know, obviously Putin and Trump himself are great charmers. And I do think that -- I do think that President Trump has learned from that experience. I mean, we're hearing more, as General Breedlove was saying.

Over the last few weeks, really since the NATO Summit, President Trump has had much, much more realistic understanding of what Putin is after here. And yes, there is a risk that that Putin can sway him during this meeting. But you know, manipulation is about on the other side, the willingness of that person listening, and the interest of that person listening to believe you, right? It is about your -- what you actually want.

And so, President Trump, in a way, he really does want to believe President Putin, and he still is talking about some things that that make me worried, like, you know, Ukraine is responsible for the war (inaudible) not at all true. So, hopefully not. But when you're one- on-one with someone that's a master like President Putin, this is a risk.

TAPPER: Yeah. We're near a train station. I don't know if you can tell. General, President Trump has acknowledged that land swaps are likely going to have to be part of any peace deal, any ceasefire deal, but that ultimately, Ukraine has to make the decision. Now publicly, Zelenskyy and the other Ukrainians are saying, no, we're not going to give up land. We're not going to go -- give up land. But privately, they must know that any sort of peace deal is going to have to -- is going to have to contain at least some sort of land concession, No?

BREEDLOVE: Well, what do you mean by concession? For instance, when Russia took over the three Baltic states again, after the Baltic states had already earned their independence once, the world was asked to acknowledge that that land was Russian land. We never did. We never did. And now, look at those Baltic states. They are back a part of the west.

[12:25:00]

What we cannot do is reward Russian adventurism in Ukraine, or any of their other neighbors, by acknowledging that any of this land in Ukraine is Russian. It is not. It is Ukrainian land. We can acknowledge that the Russians are occupying it, but we should never agree that they Russian land. And then, who knows how long it will take. That land will eventually comes back to Ukraine. I'm sure, just like the land in the Baltic nations came back to them as a peaceful part of the west.

TAPPER: Very interesting. General Philip Breedlove and Beth Sanner, thank you so much for your expertise and for spending the time with us. Right now, we really appreciate it. Coming up. President Trump sounds optimistic that he can make a deal with Vladimir Putin. My next guest spent three years wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. Does this former U.S. Marine think Putin can be trusted? Trevor Reed, coming up.

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