In a move signaling a renewed diplomatic effort, President Donald Trump announced plans to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday, aiming to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This face-to-face encounter marks another attempt by Trump to broker a peace deal regarding Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
While speaking to the press at the White House on Monday, Trump stated, “Probably in the first two minutes I’ll know if a deal can be made,” demonstrating his confidence in negotiation skills.
When asked how he could judge the potential for an agreement so quickly, Trump replied, “Because that’s what I do. I make deals.”
The Kremlin has remained mostly silent since confirming the summit, and Trump revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not expected to participate in what he described as a preliminary meeting to gauge Russia’s conditions for ending the war.
The absence of Zelenskyy from the upcoming talks has raised alarms in Kyiv and among European allies, with a joint statement from leaders of the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission calling for Ukraine’s inclusion in discussions impacting its future. The statement emphasized, “The path in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
Trump plans to prioritize facilitating direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy, but this hinges on what he considers acceptable terms. He mentioned he would communicate with NATO allies and European partners, and that he would reach out to Zelenskyy first, stating, “Out of respect, I’ll call him first.”
In preparation for the summit, Trump also announced a scheduled phone call with Zelenskyy and European leaders, set to take place on Wednesday. Despite acknowledging Trump’s diplomatic efforts, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism regarding Putin’s potential manipulation of the American leader during negotiations.
Reports suggest that Trump has grown frustrated with Zelenskyy’s stance against conceding land to Russia, citing Ukraine’s constitutional requirements for such decisions. Trump expressed annoyance regarding Zelenskyy’s insistence on needing constitutional approval to make territorial concessions. “He’s got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap?” Trump remarked.
Zelenskyy has consistently argued that any peace agreement must be accompanied by robust security guarantees from the West.
In a recent address, Zelenskyy raised concerns that Russian military strategies indicated preparations for further military operations, undermining hopes for a ceasefire. “Putin may be talking about peace, but certainly not getting ready for a ceasefire or an end to the war,” he stated, emphasizing the lack of signs from Russia indicating readiness for postwar negotiations.
The upcoming summit, announced just last week, has led to swift planning, although details surrounding the meeting—such as its timing and duration—remain vague. Questions linger regarding what concessions Russia made that justified a meeting with an American president.
Trump reiterated his prior position that negotiations might involve territorial exchanges, claiming, “There will be some landswapping going on. I know that through conversations with Russia and conversations with everybody.”
He added that any negotiated improvement would be “for the good of Ukraine” but acknowledged there would also be negative ramifications for both parties involved. Publicly, Putin exhibits little inclination to retract demands, which include the cessation of Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and comprehensive disarmament.
Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin analyst and former spokesman for Putin, conceded that Putin likely would not make grand concessions due to perceived military superiority. However, Markov suggested that Putin might present minor gestures aimed at convincing Trump that progress was being made toward a ceasefire.
Russians received the Alaska summit announcement positively, seeing it as a delay in Trump’s threat to impose extensive sanctions on Russian energy exports. For weeks, Trump had condemned Putin’s aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities, leading to detached conversations with NATO allies.
During a July 14 meeting at the Oval Office, Trump described a conversation with Putin, revealing his wife, Melania Trump, responded with concern over the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine as they spoke. That day, he heralded a deal to sell U.S.-made weapons to NATO partners to bolster Ukrainian defenses.
In a sudden shift of focus, Trump now prepares for his first summit with an American leader since 2021, which saw President Biden attempt to dissuade Putin from escalating military actions in Ukraine.
Commentators in Moscow echoed sentiments of triumph regarding the impending summit, declaring that Putin had effectively navigated a precarious diplomatic situation. Yury Podolyak, a Russian pro-war blogger, described Putin as showcasing a “masterclass in diplomacy,” emphasizing the significance of holding the summit without Zelenskyy or European representatives.
Podolyak characterized the decision to host the talks in Alaska as a substantial diplomatic achievement, arguing that it allowed for uninterrupted discussions devoid of Ukrainian or European interference.
The historical context of Alaska adds a layer of significance to the summit, as the territory was once part of the Russian Empire before its sale to the U.S. in 1867 due to Russia’s financial troubles. Both the Kremlin and its supporters have celebrated Alaska’s Russian heritage, with references to the region’s past colonial ties.
Trump inadvertently highlighted Alaska’s Russian roots during his address, mistakenly stating, “I’m going to Russia on Friday.”
In contrast, Russian nationalists have long contended that Alaska should return to Russian governance, reflecting the broader nationalistic ethos driving the current conflict.
As anticipation mounts for the summit, the outcome of Trump’s meeting with Putin remains uncertain, with various stakeholders closely monitoring developments in the lead-up to the discussions.
image source from：npr
