Trump to meet Putin to 'look him in the eye'

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio described the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 as an opportunity to assess the situation. In an interview, Rubio said that after several phone calls with Putin yielded little progress, Trump wants to meet face-to-face to "look him in the eye" and hear directly.

Rubio emphasized that the meeting does not signify a concession but is a way to clarify the situation and make decisions. He noted that Trump is a skilled negotiator with a unique instinct, and the meeting's outcome will help understand the prospects for future relations between the two countries.

The meeting was announced following the visit of U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow and his talks with Putin on August 6.