Trump is betting on a meeting with Putin on August 15th. It helps to create breakthroughs that have proven elusive at peace conferences.
How will the meeting between President Trump and Putin affect US-Russia relations?
Future meetings between President Trump and Vladimir Putin could affect future sanctions on Russia and US relations with Ukraine.
One of Donald Trump’s biggest diplomatic events in his second term will unfold in Alaska as the president meets with his Russian counterparts to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump is betting on a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15th, and could create an elusive breakthrough so far, even if the White House says it’s just a “listening exercise.”
“We’ll know exactly if we can make a deal, perhaps for the first two minutes, at the end of that meeting,” Trump said on August 11th.
The trip was the first time in the United States in 10 years, and his first meeting with the US president since his chilly sit-in with President Joe Biden in 2021. The following year, Putin invaded Ukraine and launched the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.
The summit is closely monitored by Ukrainians and European leaders. They worry that the conditions of peace discussed are not good for Kiev.
Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s Alaska meeting with Putin:
Ukraine is largely excluded
Much of the discussion leading up to the summit was about who wasn’t there.
Ukrainian President Volodymi Zelenki is not present. This raises questions about the amount that can be achieved when one of the crucial aspects of a peace agreement does not exist.
Zelensky and European leaders said that without Ukraine there could not be a decision on a peace agreement. Zelenskyy spoke with Trump twice before the summit.
“I’m not going to trade, it’s not up to me to trade,” Trump declared August 11th.
Attacks territorial concessions
Trump is trying to drive Moscow into the horrors of Kiev and its allies into an agreement that includes the loss of important territory seized by Russia in the war three years ago.
Speculating about the final deal on August 8th, Trump said it would include a “territorial exchange.”
It drew a sharp response from Zelenskyy, who said, “The Ukrainians would not give their land to the occupyers.”
But Trump continued pushing on August 11, saying that he was “a bit troubling” by the Ukrainian leader’s claim that the exchange of land would violate the country’s constitution.
“There will be some exchanges,” Trump insisted on August 11th. “There will be some changes to the land.”
The debate over territorial concessions rests on the summit. Putin claims not only the Black Sea Peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014, but four Ukrainian regions: Luhansk, Donetsk, Zapolizia and Herson.
Trump’s relationship with Putin is in the spotlight
Trump has had a well-known and warm relationship with Putin over the years, and often praises Russian dictators. Trump reportedly shared the Intelligence News, which was classified as a Russian official, during his first term, attempting to ease US opposition to Russia’s past attacks on Ukraine and its human rights abuses.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Zelensky appeared in one of the lowest points of Trump’s first term. He was fired up on allegations that he pressured Zelensky to dig up the dirt on his political rival Joe Biden.
Trump’s friendly approach to Putin has been largely continuing as he worked to get a peace deal, focusing his anger on Zelensky, most notably during an explosive, oval office meeting where the two publicly clashed. Trump told Ukrainian leaders that he “doesn’t have a card” when it comes to resolving a dispute that favors the country.
However, recently Trump has repeatedly denounced Putin and complained about his dislike of trying to stop the fight.
Putin escalated an attack on Ukraine before the summit. The summit was called “a sign of extremely malicious” by former GOP house speaker and Trump’s ally Newt Ginrich. Trump said on August 13 that if Putin doesn’t agree to end the war, there will be “very serious consequences.”
Economic punishment while playing
Trump’s tougher approach to Russia is exemplified by his announcement on July 14 that he will collect strict secondary tariffs on countries doing business with Moscow.
The administration took a step forward to punish Russian oil customers on August 6, imposing an additional 25% tariff on goods from India on Russian oil imports. It marked the first financial punishment targeted Russia in Trump’s second term.
Trump said he had said he would place him in Putin if the ceasefire was not reached by August 8th.
The summit will help you determine whether Trump will comply with sanctions.
Trump lowers expectations
Meeting Putin is a big step, but Trump and the White House are underestimating the possibility of a breakthrough.
“This is a really pleasant meeting,” Trump said on August 11th.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt called the summit a “hearing movement for the president.”
“Look, there will be only one party involved in this war,” Levitt said on August 12th.
Trump Putin’s reunion
Trump and Putin will meet in Anchorage, Alaska, at the Elmendorf Richardson joint base, home to around 30,000 service members, their families and civilian employees.
Alaska was once a part of Russia. The US bought it in 1867 for $7.2 million.
Trump met with Putin multiple times in 2018 during his first term in office, including Finland’s Helsinki. Putin denied intervening in the 2016 election.
Contributions: Reuters; Michael James, Francesca Chambers, Joey Garrison, Tom Vanden Brook, Swapna Benugopal Lamaswamy, Lauren Villagran, USA
