How was the meeting between Putin and Trump and what will it lead to? Analysis
A personal meeting between the heads of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, took place on the territory of a military base in Alaska. The leaders of the two countries have not spoken face-to-face since 2019, and this was the first visit of the Russian president to the United States in the last ten years. Prior to that, his last trip to the United States took place in 2015, and the last talks with the American leader took place in 2021 in Geneva, when he met with former US President Joe Biden. Now, the talks between Putin and Trump have acquired special significance, since they took place after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. What the meeting of the two leaders can lead to is in the analysis of Izvestia.
How did it go
• Initially, a closed-door conversation between the presidents was planned in a narrow format, with only interpreters present. However, when the Russian delegation arrived at the site around 11:00 a.m. local time (22:00 Moscow time), the format changed. Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Trump's special envoy Steven Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio entered the meeting room with the leaders. After a short photo session, the parties moved on to a discussion behind closed doors.
• The final press conference of the leaders of the two countries turned out to be atypical. Putin and Trump refrained from talking to the press. They limited themselves to a handshake and a short exchange of remarks. The Russian president expressed gratitude for the invitation to visit Alaska, emphasizing the special importance of this territory. He recalled that the region has served as a link for the two countries at different stages of history.
• Putin also thanked his American counterpart for the steps taken to find a solution to the conflict. According to him, the parties managed to reach a certain mutual understanding, which, as expected, can become the basis for moving towards a peaceful settlement of the situation in Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow is counting on a constructive perception of the agreements reached in Kiev and European capitals. He noted that it is extremely important to exclude attempts to disrupt the process through provocations or behind-the-scenes actions. The President called what is happening in Ukraine a tragedy and pain for Russia, as Ukrainians are seen as a fraternal people, and that is why Moscow is particularly interested in establishing peace as soon as possible. At the same time, he confirmed that Russia recognizes the need to ensure Ukraine's security and is ready to participate in practical work in this direction.
• Trump, whose speech was shorter, said that Washington and Moscow had managed to reach some agreement on a number of issues. According to him, the most important thing is that there remains a real prospect of reaching a peaceful solution. At the same time, the American leader noted that there is no complete understanding and a final deal has not yet been concluded. At the same time, Trump confirmed his intention to continue contacts and discuss the results of negotiations with European partners and the leadership of Ukraine.
• Later, in an interview with Fox News, Trump stressed that European states should play a role in the settlement process. According to him, they plan to prepare a meeting between President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. The American president stated that he was ready to personally take part in this event.
What the media is writing
• Western publications are actively discussing the warm welcome that Trump gave Putin. NBC drew attention to a sharp contrast: Putin's friendly greeting from Trump and the tense relations between the American president and his Ukrainian counterpart after the meeting with Vladimir Zelensky. Reuters noted that the leaders met each other as old acquaintances. According to The New York Times, Trump organized a number of ceremonial gestures for the Russian president, from the flight of combat aircraft and the red carpet to a joint ride in the presidential limousine. The newspaper also writes that the owner of the White House even applauded Putin when he walked out to him on the carpet.
• As residents of the American state told Izvestia, they consider Putin's visit to Alaska to be an event of exceptional importance: for the first time in a century, Anchorage has found itself at the center of world politics, and the townspeople are actively following what is happening. Street art artists create posters with the slogans "For Peace" and "For Russia," and locals look forward to the meeting of the leaders of Russia and the United States, linking it with the possible end of the conflict in Ukraine. Residents remember Alaska's historical connection with Russia, noting Russian stone signs and monuments, and also continue to collect souvenirs from our country, which have always been popular here.
The future of relationships
• The talks between Putin and Trump in Alaska may affect several key areas of international politics. First of all, attention is focused on the Ukrainian crisis. Even a partial reconciliation of positions opens up prospects for finding a settlement formula and fixing obligations to ensure Ukraine's security. If mechanisms for controlling the situation are developed and a basis for future agreements is created, this could be the beginning of a gradual reduction in the level of confrontation. At the same time, there remains the possibility of expanding the negotiation format with the involvement of European states, which may give the process additional legitimacy.
• Another significant consequence of the meeting may be the adjustment of Russian-American relations in a broader context. The symbolic side of the meeting, accompanied by ceremonial gestures and a public demonstration of respect, can be a signal of the desire to restore dialogue at the highest level. If this course is consolidated, it is possible to resume discussions on strategic stability, arms control issues, as well as on regional conflicts where the positions of Moscow and Washington overlap.
• The energy and economic agenda remains an important focus. Direct interaction between the two major powers opens up prospects for lifting a number of trade restrictions and creating channels for discussing energy routes and markets. For Washington, this may mean strengthening its position in the Arctic, and for Moscow, expanding its energy export opportunities.
• It is possible that the meeting will become a platform for the formation of a more flexible diplomatic configuration in which the United States and Russia will try to jointly influence global processes while preserving their strategic interests. The result is unlikely to be an instant breakthrough. A gradual accumulation of agreements is likely, which in the future will reduce the level of international tension and create prerequisites for new formats of cooperation.
• The Alaska talks are able to outline the directions of possible movement between Moscow and Washington. The countries can move from a gradual settlement of the Ukrainian conflict and the restoration of trust between Moscow and Washington to developing the foundations for long-term cooperation in the field of security, economics and world politics. However, it is difficult to make accurate forecasts so far, as the positions of Russia and the United States on a number of key issues differ significantly.
When writing the material, Izvestia interviewed:
- Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Earl Rasmussen.
- political scientist Yuri Svetov;
- political scientist Inna Litvinenko.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
