Putin Outplays Trump at the Alaska Summit
The meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded without any tangible outcomes. There were already concerns that the meeting would not yield any substantial results. Meanwhile, the meeting ended as the Russian military seized two additional Ukrainian villages. Hostilities between Russia and Ukraine persisted even during the discussions. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing since February 2022, lasting over three years. Ukraine is facing devastation, and Russia is also enduring significant losses. Despite this, both Trump and Putin provided non-committal responses following the Alaska meeting. Putin extended an invitation to Trump to visit Moscow for the next meeting. Just days earlier, Trump had been heavily criticizing Putin, warning Russia of severe repercussions if the conflict continued. However, in Alaska, Trump displayed a camaraderie with Putin as if they were long-lost friends reuniting. Trump extended a warm welcome to Putin, akin to the reception one head of state gives another. These events have once again fueled the perception that Trump is misleading Ukraine.
There is a discussion in diplomatic circles that Trump did not even make Zelensky a partner in the discussion points with Putin. When the talks were over, he called Zelensky to Washington for talks. It is a tradition that big powers always compromise among themselves and the loss is always suffered by small countries. After the Alaska meeting, Trump is being criticized in America and European countries that why is he now friends with Putin, whom he was calling a war criminal. Trump's statement after the meeting that Ukraine should compromise with Russia is also a topic of discussion. Russia is a very big country. Trump wants Zelensky to make a peace agreement by giving the occupied land to Russia. Overall, Putin has won the Alaska meeting. Vladimir Putin had reached America fully prepared. His vision was very clear. He also brought a delegation of businessmen and economic advisors with him. It seemed that he had gone to America not to talk about Ukraine but for some business deal. On one hand, America is getting angry and imposing tariffs on India which trades with Russia, on the other hand, trade between America and Russia has increased during Donald Trump's tenure. According to reports, a 20 percent increase has been registered in the trade between the two countries. Putin said that both America and Russia have many offers for each other.
Trump is looking more like a trader than a leader at this time. India was keeping an eye on this meeting and had also welcomed it. India was waiting for the results of the meeting. This is because a few days before the meeting, US Finance Minister Scott Bessant had threatened that if no results came out of the talks between Trump and Putin, then more additional tariffs could be imposed on India, but Putin was not ready to bow down to any pressure. Trump's argument was that the more pressure is put on India, the more Putin will bow down. Putin has restored his diplomatic image on the international stage by participating in the Alaska meeting. Putin can now say that he has returned to the mainstream of global politics. No matter how much effort is made to isolate him, it cannot succeed. Russia also knows very well that if it gets Trump's support, he will stop the US aid to Ukraine and America and Russia will be ready to increase economic cooperation.
Trump wants trade agreements along with peace. Trump is blackmailing India by getting entangled in his own words. It is clear from Putin's words that he wants to take the talks forward with Trump on his own terms. Putin knows that Donald Trump looks at every issue through the lens of trade. Therefore, Vladimir Putin also wants to deal with Donald Trump by showing a profitable deal. Putin's first goal is to get security assurance. Putin said that Ukraine's security is important and we are ready to protect it together. This means that Putin does not want the presence of NATO countries in Ukraine. Imposing higher tariffs on India is part of Trump's negotiation strategy, which has always had the same pattern. Keep imposing a large number of tariffs continuously to trouble the other side and then gain an edge at the negotiating table. China also faced a 145 percent tariff, after which the tariff came down to 30 percent and the European Union was threatened with a 30 percent tariff just before their final tariff talks, which came down to 15 percent after the agreement was reached. Overall, Putin seems capable of turning the tables on Trump. Trump can say that he has moved forward in the direction of peace. Now we are waiting for the meeting to be held in Moscow. To save humanity, the war must end. Even if it is on Russia's terms.