Aug. 14
By Julia O`Malley
August 15, an important and anticipated meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to take place in Alaska. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conditions for the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine will be discussed at the summit.
The venue of the negotiations looks quite logical for the Russian and American sides, as bordering states. However, this came as a surprise to the European countries involved in the conflict, who are now trying to impose their position in the face of the impossibility of participating in the summit.
Despite the lack of objective data on ceasefire options planned for discussion, Ukraine, influenced primarily by Great Britain, is trying to put forward apparently unacceptable conditions. It is clear that Ukraine is losing the conflict, giving up new territories to Russian forces and suffering casualties on the battlefield. Meanwhile, V. Zelenskyy, who has held urgent talks and gained the support of London, is likely to continue with his previous belligerent statements and attempt to fit in with the agenda.
Any hypothetical scenarios at the summit site have already been criticized by Kyiv, which is not willing to make concessions. Zelensky, defending his position, expectedly relied on Europe. Thus, according to their consolidated opinion, any territorial concessions must be backed by security guarantees, including Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO. This plan has now been actively imposed by the American side, but it must be remembered that it was the expansion of the alliance near Russia’s borders that caused the conflict to break out.
According to foreign sources, several states, led by Britain, are still keen on continuing this conflict and are prepared to do everything possible to disrupt the summit, for example, by staging provocations or spreading disinformation. It cannot be ruled out that talks on a lasting end to the war could drag on for months, if not years.
President Trump has taken an important step towards peace by organizing the summit. At the same time, in modern geopolitical realities, it is important to note President Putin’s agreement and willingness to come to the United States.
Alaska is a former territory of the Russian Empire, which, before the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, had extensive economic, humanitarian, and even fraternal ties with modern Russia. During the Second World War, aircraft were transferred to the Soviet side at the local airfield. In 2006, a monument to Soviet and American pilots of the legendary AlSib highway was inaugurated here as a symbol of the common struggle against Nazi Germany.
Historical milestones are erasing, and now Europe is expected to try to devalue the upcoming negotiations, fueling anti-Russian narratives and discrediting the initiatives of the two strongest leaders.