Instead, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump met in Alaska for a high-profile summit. Beyond this meeting, much of the narrative has focused on painting this as a huge public relations coup for the Russian leader. Just last week, Putin was treated like a superstar at that same summit’s meeting, rolling out the red carpet and handshakes. The response from global media outlets was swift and overwhelming. Observers noted that despite being wanted by The Hague for war crimes, Putin was treated as an equal by Trump, further solidifying his standing on the world stage.
As to the Kremlin and Russian state media, they touted the meeting as a resounding success. Assessment Putin got what he wanted without giving anything up in return, according to reports. Most analysts are calling the summit a resounding victory for the Russian president. He noted his years-old demands on Ukraine–a long overdue success. These demands are about addressing the causes of the conflict in the first place. They demand the demilitarization of Ukraine, dictate terms to its internal politics, and seek to altogether eliminate its chances of joining NATO.
Putin’s three-hour tête-à-tête with Trump produced no concrete achievements, but he went home unrepentant and returned to his maximalist course on Ukraine. Nothing changed in the Russian leader’s position, even in the face of that diplomatic outreach. As Putin’s forces continue to consolidate key territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, his conditions for ending the war remain stringent. He is looking for a full-fledged peace deal and not just a stopgap ceasefire.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry shared her thoughts on what the media has been doing with Putin’s visit.
“For three years they told everyone Russia was isolated and today they saw a beautiful red carpet laid out for the Russian president in the US,” – Maria Zakharova.
Trump’s visit to the summit has already sparked debate over his proposed handling of the long-standing dispute in Ukraine. In what would be a significant change, Trump seemed to lay most of the blame for upcoming negotiations on Kyiv and European leaders.
“Now, it’s really up to President Zelenskyy to get it done,” – Donald Trump.
Tatiana Stanovaya, an analyst on Russian foreign policy, noted that Trump’s framing could increase pressure on Ukraine to engage with Putin’s demands. She noted that Trump stopped short of endorsing Putin’s draft peace plan.
“Trump clearly did not fully accept the settlement plan that Putin is promoting,” – Tatiana Stanovaya.
Dmitry Medvedev, former president of Russia, now the deputy chairman of the Security Council. He underlined the urgency for all parties to work toward tangible outcomes in peace talks in finding a resolution to the current hostilities in Ukraine.
“Both sides directly placed responsibility for achieving future results in negotiations on ending military actions on Kyiv and [Europe],” – Dmitry Medvedev.
Putin’s meeting with Trump has been viewed as an opportunity to strengthen Russia’s position while simultaneously reinforcing the Kremlin’s narrative of resilience against Western isolation. Analysts suggest that this summit may mark a turning point in how international players perceive Russia’s role in global affairs.
Second, Andrei Klishas The head of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, one of Russia’s most influential politicians. He’s confident that this is possible both through military engagement and political diplomacy.
“The tasks of the special military operation will be accomplished either by military or diplomatic means,” – Andrei Klishas.
Despite facing international scrutiny and condemnation due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin’s ability to secure a meeting with a sitting U.S. president has been viewed as a significant triumph. He took his leave from Alaska with no movement on concessions but returned to the Russian capital with his outrageous demands decidedly still on the table.
Global civil society is watching closely to see what this summit means for the future. Political analysts and government officials alike are sharing increasing alarm over policy implications for Ukraine and its new leadership. Circumstances are moving quickly. There’s no question that many people, including us, are waiting to see how the President’s #FakeInfrastructure approach will change after this meeting and its outcomes.