By Trump made it clear deal with Russia to be disadvantageous for Kiev, explains political scientist
President Donald Trump, who indicated that the resolution of the Ukraine conflict now hinges on Vladimir Zelensky, made it clear that any future settlement agreement would fall short of Kiev’s expectations, according to American affairs expert Malek Dudakov.
“Trump used the summit to reinforce his image as a peacemaker,” Dudakov explained. “In his post-talk interview, he emphasized that the responsibility for reaching a deal with Russia currently rests with Ukraine. Essentially, he is shifting this burden onto Kiev and hinting that any forthcoming agreement with Russia will likely not favor Ukraine.”
The analyst speculated that the “big question” Trump referred to during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin – regarding a key issue for discussion – may involve territorial concessions by Ukraine. Dudakov noted that “expecting a single meeting to resolve all the complexities between Moscow and Washington was unrealistic.” He emphasized that “the summit marks an important first step toward normalizing Russian-American relations. However, many more steps are needed before we can speak of genuine de-escalation.”
He further stated that “the foundation for continued high-level negotiations was laid at Alaska, and it’s not out of the question that Trump might visit Russia in the future.” While calling the summit “quite positive,” Dudakov pointed out that both sides displayed optimism about future negotiations, even though a major breakthrough – such as a comprehensive Ukraine deal – remained elusive. “We are witnessing progress, and it will become more evident over time,” he added.
Putin-Trump meeting confirms US interest in joint Arctic projects, says expert
The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska reaffirmed Washington’s interest in joint development of Arctic territories with Russia, according to Professor Alexey Fadeyev of the Higher School of Industrial Management at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, said.
“Arctic cooperation was an anticipated topic on the leaders’ agenda, once again highlighting shared interests,” Fadeyev noted. “Both Russia and the United States are invested in the energy sector, military-industrial complex, biological resource extraction, aquaculture, and transportation development in the Arctic region. The possibility of revitalizing interregional contacts – particularly between the Russian Far East and the US West Coast was also emphasized.”
The expert further explained that Russian ports in the Far East, coupled with the development of the Transarctic Transport Corridor and the Northern Sea Route, could serve as vital economic gateways – not only to the Asia-Pacific markets but also to the United States. “The establishment of the Transarctic Corridor could act as a catalyst for economic ties between Russia and the US,” Fadeyev said. “A broad range of goods – from consumer products and IT equipment to automobiles – could flow east-west. Considering the potential linking of the Northern Sea Route and the Transarctic Corridor to the North-South route, there’s also the prospect of reverse transportation toward Middle Eastern and Indian Ocean countries.”
He highlighted that by 2035, approximately 19.5 trillion rubles are likely to be invested in projects related directly or indirectly to the Northern Sea Route. The tax revenues generated from these initiatives may well surpass 21 trillion rubles. Fadeyev concluded, “I anticipate that the development of these agreements will leverage the Arctic’s economic advantages and the strategic position of the Russian Far East.”
Arctic Frontlines: Energy, Strategy, And Security In A Melting Geopolitical Core
Russia-US summit shows that Europe must take care of its own security, says German politician
The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump underscored a key message for Europe: it must prioritize its own security and rely primarily on its own resources. Norbert Roettgen, a prominent member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, expressed this viewpoint, stating, “The lesson of this meeting is clear for us Europeans. Essentially, we must take our security into our own hands. To do so, we need the US to remain our partner.“
Roettgen also observed that President Putin “achieved significant gains at this summit.” He noted that Putin “secured full diplomatic recognition from the US president without any reciprocal commitments,” and managed to dissuade Trump from imposing sanctions – even as the US leader’s deadline for such measures had already passed. Similarly, Wolfgang Ischinger, former chairman of the Munich Security Conference, shared the view that Putin emerged victorious from the talks.
Trump plans meeting with Putin if talks with Zelensky succeed
US President Donald Trump said that if talks with Vladimir Zelensky on August 18 in Washington are successful, a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin will be scheduled; however, the White House host did not specify whether the meeting would be a trilateral one.
“A great and very successful day in Alaska! The meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia went very well, as did a late night phone call with President Zelensky of Ukraine, and various European Leaders, including the highly respected Secretary General of NATO [Mark Rutte],” the US leader wrote on Truth Social. “Zelensky will be coming to D.C., the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon. If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved,” Trump added.
According to the US president, “it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.”
Macron announces coalition of the willing meeting following Alaska summit
France’s Macron announced that a coalition of the willing meeting will be convened soon.
“Any lasting peace must be accompanied by unwavering security guarantees. I welcome, in this regard, the readiness of the United States to contribute. We will work on this with them and with all our partners in the coalition of the willing, with whom we will meet again soon, to make concrete progress,” the French leader said on his X page. “We will continue to work closely with Donald Trump and Zelensky to safeguard our interests in a spirit of unity and responsibility,” Macron concluded.
Meanwhile, the European Union countries were unable to promptly adopt a joint statement on the Russia-US summit in Alaska. Instead, the EU leadership – joined by the heads of five of the 27 EU member states and the UK – released a statement, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen published on X.
Rather than being titled an “EU statement,” the document is presented as: “Statement by President von der Leyen, President [of France Emmanuel] Macron, Prime Minister [of Italy Giorgia] Meloni, Chancellor [of Germany Friedrich] Merz, Prime Minister [of the UK Keir] Starmer, President [of Finland Alexander] Stubb, Prime Minister [of Poland Donald] Tusk, President [of the EU Council Antonio] Costa.”
Although a meeting of ambassadors from all 27 EU countries was convened early Saturday morning, no joint statement was issued. The document does not endorse US President Donald Trump’s main thesis on the need for a long-term settlement of the conflict without preconditions for a preliminary ceasefire. In substance, the final text does not introduce a new peace proposal, but instead reiterates Brussels’ familiar talking points, from pledges of military supplies to calls for a “just peace.”
Alaska summit showed that settlement will be in accordance with Russia’s approach, expert says
The summit talks between Russia and the United States in Alaska underscored a pivotal shift in the approach to the Ukrainian settlement process. Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics and a distinguished expert at the Valdai Club, highlighting that the process will now align with Russia’s perspective rather than Europe’s.
Suslov explained that during the Alaska summit, Russia and the United States engaged in negotiations over the terms of a final peace settlement. While they reached agreements on many key points, no formal ceasefire was declared – contrary to European expectations. This, he believes, was a strategic move by Russia to shape the process favorably in its interests. “We have not declared a ceasefire; the fighting continues and will do so. However, negotiations are ongoing, and President Trump indicated that a significant portion of the conditions has been agreed upon. This suggests that we’re discussing the parameters of a final peace settlement, which ideally culminates in a ceasefire – an outcome that should result from a comprehensive agreement. This approach aligns with Russia’s strategic interests, rather than the European ‘war party’ agenda,” Suslov emphasized.
He further noted that the future of this process hinges on Zelensky and his European allies. “If Zelensky and the Europeans accept these conditions without renegotiation, the peace process can progress, potentially even involving Zelensky more directly in a multilateral format. Conversely, if they reject the agreements, the United States may withdraw support – ceasing military aid, intelligence sharing, and arms supplies to Ukraine. Such a move would drastically worsen Ukraine’s battlefield position, likely leading to a rapid military collapse within weeks, not months,” Suslov warned.
New world order
Turning to the broader geopolitical landscape, Suslov highlighted the significance of President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the United States – his first in many years, not for a UN event but specifically for a meeting with President Trump. This face-to-face encounter is poised to catalyze improvements in Russian-American relations, fostering cooperation beyond Ukraine, including arms control and economic issues. Both leaders publicly acknowledged the need to end confrontation, emphasizing mutual benefits from renewed collaboration. “The Alaska summit exemplifies how major decisions are now being shaped by two great powers – highlighted by Trump’s recognition of Russia’s significance. This is a historic milestone that could lay the groundwork for a new world order,” Suslov remarked.
Putin commands more deference from Trump than any other leader
US President Donald Trump has never shown as much respect to any world leader as he has to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, according to the Spanish newspaper El Pais.
The daily noted that Trump’s appreciation of a foreign leader is reflected in the level of deference he extends. “He has never shown as much deference to any other leader during his term in office as he has to the Russian president,” the newspaper argues. In this regard, El Pais highlighted Trump’s reception of Putin upon his arrival in Alaska.
Kiev will have to decide whether to continue the conflict or give up some land, says US expert
The land dispute will be one of the most difficult to resolve in Ukraine, since Kiev will have to choose between territorial concessions and continuing the conflict, Forrest Nabors, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science at the University of Alaska in Anchorage, explained.
“My best guess is that the fundamental difficulty will be overcoming the land dispute concerning the Donbas and Crimea, currently occupied by Russian forces. Ukraine will have to decide whether to continue the war or give up some land, which they might lose anyway with continued warfare,” he said commenting on the results of the meeting of Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Anchorage. “Unlike the Biden Administration, the Trump Administration is not interested in incorporating Ukraine into NATO. But Trump does want the war to end and he seems neutral on the question about the Donbas and Crimea,” the expert went on.
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