Trump and Putin: A Summit of Illusions with No Path to Peace

When President Donald Trump welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin—who is facing war crimes allegations and has been sidelined by the West—to American territory, he envisioned reaching an agreement that could lead Moscow and Kyiv toward peace, with a potential Nobel Peace Prize for himself on the horizon.

However, even an extravagant welcome, where Trump celebrated their strong ties and allowed Putin to ride in the presidential limousine, failed to catalyze any movement toward a ceasefire.

During their three-hour discussion at a military facility in Alaska, formerly a Russian territory, the two leaders acknowledged some areas of agreement, but did not finalize a ceasefire in a conflict that has claimed numerous lives and resulted in Russia occupying 20% of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is anticipated to visit Washington on Monday, while key European leaders engaged in lengthy discussions on Saturday following Trump’s briefing regarding the summit.

Some analysts contend that the meeting, which lasted significantly less time than the six to seven hours predicted by the Kremlin, still “fulfilled its minimum purpose” for both nations.

“The gathering allowed both parties to express their desire for peace, while in practice, they will persist with their previous actions,” remarked former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev in an interview with The Moscow Times.

“Trump will continue to pursue a friendly stance toward Putin without imposing sanctions, while Putin will persist in his military efforts, under the guise of collaborating with Trump to promote peace,” said Bondarev, who worked at Russia’s UN mission until the onset of the Ukraine war.

Exiting their three-hour dialogue for a pre-arranged press conference, Trump and Putin exchanged friendly remarks during their brief statements but refrained from addressing questions from journalists.

Despite the session being deemed «extremely productive» with «many points» of consensus, Trump stated, “there’s no deal until there’s a deal,» without clarifying specifics where disagreements lingered.

Putin also spoke generally about cooperation in his statements during the 12-minute press briefing, expressing hope that their agreements would «open avenues for peace in Ukraine.»

In his speech, Putin addressed the «root causes» of the conflict, referencing Moscow’s demands that Ukraine remain permanently outside NATO, reduce its military capacity, and maintain a strong alignment with Russian interests.

“I’ve consistently stated that the events in Ukraine pose fundamental threats to Russia’s national security,” Putin said.

“All of Russia’s legitimate concerns must be acknowledged, and a fair security equilibrium must be restored in Europe and globally,” he added.

Alexandra Filippenko, an independent Russian analyst focused on American politics, noted, “The main takeaway is that there are virtually no tangible outcomes.”

“In my opinion, the principal result is confusion—especially within the U.S.,” Filippenko explained to The Moscow Times.

“This feeling of uncertainty is particularly apparent among conservative media and fervent Trump supporters,” she added.

After the discussions concluded earlier than anticipated with no definitive agreements made public, broader discussions and a working lunch were canceled.

This suggests that economic cooperation, Arctic issues, and relations with China were likely not on the agenda, Filippenko indicated.

“As of now, besides Putin’s diplomatic ‘victory’—the visit of an internationally wanted figure to the U.S., accompanied by a lavish welcome and applause from the American president—no significant progress is evident,” stated Maria Snegovaya, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

“Hopefully, this bodes well for Ukraine: Putin’s obstinance should prompt U.S. sanctions,” Snegovaya remarked, referring to Trump’s warnings of imposing heavy secondary sanctions on Moscow if it didn’t agree to halt its military actions in Ukraine by August 8.

In response to the talks, Trump expressed he would not implement new sanctions against Russia or its trading partners, adding, “I may need to reconsider in two or three weeks, but that’s not an immediate concern right now.”

Meanwhile, pro-Kremlin analysts and Russian officials largely viewed the meeting as a significant achievement for Moscow.

“Approximately 80% of the matters have been settled,” asserted pro-Kremlin political expert Sergei Markov.

“A very warm, amicable, and trusting bond has formed between Putin and Trump. This is why the meeting is widely regarded as a triumph for Putin and a shift away from isolation,” Markov commented.

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former President, stated, “A comprehensive framework for high-level discussions between Russia and the U.S. has been reinstated—calm, without ultimatums or threats.”

“The crucial point is that both sides have explicitly attributed responsibility for achieving future diplomatic results in ending hostilities to Kyiv and Europe,” added Medvedev, who is known for his outspoken anti-Western rants on social media.

According to Bondarev, this approach from both Putin and Trump—which shies away from making definitive decisions on the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine—might linger for some time.

“Putin will continue pursuing his objectives unless substantial resistance arises. If Ukraine can endure for a few more years, then the conflict could extend for an indefinite period,” Bondarev noted. “At some point, Trump may be compelled to take action.”

“But for the time being, there’s no indication of that—and it appears both leaders are rather content with one another,” he concluded.

AFP contributed to this report.