'Fake news': Trump dismisses reports of ‘major defeat’ after Putin summit in Alaska

Trump, taking to his social media site, Truth Social, slammed media reports that described the August 15 summit as a “major defeat.”

US President Donald Trump, on Monday, dismissed claims that he had suffered a “defeat” at the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin during their August 15 summit in Alaska.

Trump, taking to his social media site Truth Social,  in the early hours of the day, slammed media reports that described the August 15 summit as a “major defeat.” He said that while Moscow objected to holding the meeting in the U.S., he believes it ultimately gave Washington a stronger position, calling it “a great honor for America,” in a series of posts.

“The Fake News has been saying for 3 days that I suffered a ‘major defeat’... Actually, [Putin] would have loved doing the meeting anywhere else but the U.S., and the Fake News knows this,” Trump wrote, adding that Democrats were attempting to distort the outcome.

" If we had the Summit elsewhere, the Democrat run and controlled media would have said what a terrible thing THAT was. These people are sick!" he writes.

The US President also defended his administration’s broader record, reiterating that his government had secured the southern border and pledging similar improvements in crime prevention across major US cities.

"They even want CRIME IN D.C., and other BLUE Cities throughout our Country, but don’t worry, I won’t let that happen. Just like our now secure Southern Border (ZERO illegals in last 3 months!), our cities will be Secure and Safe, and D.C. will lead the way!", he stated.

Despite the political sparring, Trump hailed the Alaska talks as “a great and very successful day,” noting that discussions with Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European leaders converged on the view that a “peace agreement”, not a temporary ceasefire, was the best route to end the ongoing war.

In the meantime, preparations are underway in Washington, where Trump is set to host Zelenskyy on Monday, alongside a high-level delegation of European leaders.

Confirming the same, the US President wrote on Truth Social, "Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!! "

According to a CNN report, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will join the talks.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO’s Mark Rutte are also slated to attend the crucial talks.

According to diplomatic sources, the meeting will be divided into smaller sessions before a joint discussion, with conversations likely to centre on Russia’s territorial demands and security guarantees for Ukraine.

French and German officials have stressed the importance of preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty and European security, while the UK has voiced support for Zelenskyy’s push for a “just and lasting peace.”

Trump’s top envoy, Steve Witkoff, told CNN that the US President is also exploring the possibility of convening a direct three-way dialogue with Putin and Zelenskyy in the near future.

Moscow, however, has yet to confirm any such framework, and Putin has previously been reluctant to discuss territorial concessions.

Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that he will travel to Washington on Monday for talks with Trump, hours after the U.S. President's high-profile summit with Putin in Alaska.

The Alaska meeting, Putin’s first trip to Western soil since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, ended without a breakthrough. While Trump highlighted what he called “nascent progress,” he stressed that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.”

Putin, meanwhile, said the discussions had produced an “understanding” on Ukraine and cautioned European nations against obstructing the process.