Could Putin and Trump Forge Peace in Alaska?

Anchorage, Alaska, Aug 15 (NationPress) - US President Donald Trump welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, for a pivotal summit on Friday aimed at negotiating a cease-fire in the ongoing Ukraine war.

After stepping off his plane, Air Force One, Trump waited for Putin on the tarmac, where they exchanged friendly greetings.

The White House confirmed that Trump would not attend the meeting solo; he would be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

The post-meeting lunch will also include Rubio, Witkoff, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

This summit holds the potential to significantly impact the trajectory of the Ukraine war and US-Russia relations.

Trump's objective is to forge a comprehensive peace agreement, warning of “very severe consequences” for Russia if it does not de-escalate, while acknowledging a 25% chance that the negotiations might not succeed. Putin is likely looking to solidify Russia's territorial gains and impede Ukraine's NATO aspirations.

Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders are not present, raising alarms about decisions being made without their input.

Crucial discussions may revolve around Ukrainian territorial concessions, US security assurances outside of NATO, and broader peace agreements.

NATO's Alexus Grynkewich is present in Alaska to provide counsel to Trump and Defence Secretary Hegseth.

The summit's location at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, merely three miles from Russia, underscores US security, Cold War history, and Trump's transactional diplomacy.

Exclusion of Ukrainian President Zelensky and his European allies has sparked concerns that Trump could compromise Ukraine's position by essentially freezing the conflict with Russia and acknowledging Russian control over significant parts of Ukraine.

Trump attempted to alleviate such worries as he boarded Air Force One, asserting he would let Ukraine determine any potential territorial agreements.

“I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I’m here to bring them to the table,” he stated.

When asked what would constitute a successful meeting, he expressed, “I want to see a ceasefire quickly... I won’t be satisfied if it doesn’t happen today... I want the killing to cease.”

The Russian delegation accompanying Putin will include foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Trump aspires for a truce in this 3-and-a-half-year-long conflict to not only foster regional peace but also to enhance his stature as a global peacemaker, potentially deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.

For Putin, the summit represents a significant achievement, allowing him to depict the failure of Western efforts to isolate Russia and asserting Moscow's prominence in international diplomacy.

Trump remarked on the mutual respect between him and Putin, stating, “He is a smart guy, been doing this for a long time, but so have I... There’s a good level of respect on both sides.” He welcomed Putin's decision to involve business leaders in Alaska but emphasized, “They’re not pursuing business until we resolve the war,” reiterating a threat of “economically severe” repercussions for Russia if the summit falters.