US President Donald Trump has agreed to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at a US military base in Alaska, advancing Russia’s goal of reshaping the global security order. The two leaders are set to discuss Ukraine and potential sanctions against Russia.
The meeting has been criticized by some as a Kremlin ploy to divert attention from economic sanctions and a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had expressed disappointment over Trump’s decision not to invite him to the summit, while former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev questioned the purpose of the meeting, saying it is an opportunity for Putin to present his terms.
Putin has long demanded that Ukraine surrender four resource-rich regions and recognize Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea. He also wants Ukraine barred from NATO membership and its military constrained. Trump has vowed “very severe” consequences if Putin continues the war, but critics argue this is just rhetoric without concrete action.
The meeting comes at a time when war fatigue is setting in on all sides, with estimates suggesting that over 1 million Russians may be killed or wounded by summer. Analysts say the summit may be an opportunity for Putin to normalize relations with the US and end sanctions, but it remains uncertain whether significant progress will be made.
The exclusion of European leaders from the meeting has been seen as a blow to collective Western unity, with German parliamentarian Roderich Kiesewetter warning that this marks the end of the West’s collective alliance. The fate of Ukraine and its people hangs in the balance as the world waits to see what concessions, if any, will be made during the summit.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/08/14/russia-putin-trump-global-order