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Trump neither lost nor won. Putin walked away with three strategic advantages and Zelensky is heading to a crucial meeting in Washington.
There may have been red carpets, smiles for the cameras and statements before the meeting of the two most powerful Presidents on the planet, but in the end the picture was clear: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin did not reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Ukraine. However, the Russian president appears to have been the big winner of the meeting, while Volodymyr Zelensky is entering a difficult phase, with his visit to Washington on Monday, August 18.
From the moment the two leaders' planes touched down in Alaska until they departed six hours later, all eyes were on Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The two most powerful presidents on the planet seemed to appreciate that their very presence at the same negotiating table was a significant development.
International politics expert Thodoris Tsikas, commenting on the Alaska meeting for Newsbomb.gr, states that “both Putin and Trump seemed to appreciate being at the negotiating table, having an honest discussion.”
What did Vladimir Putin gain?
According to Tsikas, the Russian president achieved three important goals:
He bought time on the front: He believes he has the potential for new territorial gains by winter and is therefore in no hurry for a ceasefire.
He avoided new sanctions: Trump did not impose the additional sanctions he had announced (up to 500% on basic products and secondary sanctions on China and India).
He broke diplomatic isolation: Being at the same table with the US president, Putin is making a dynamic comeback on the international stage.
"From diplomatic isolation, he returns to the forefront of international life and is even accepted by the leader of the most powerful country," he stressed.
What did Donald Trump win?
Despite his historic meeting with the Russian president, Donald Trump achieved nothing concrete.
"The US president was hoping for at least a small agreement, such as an air ceasefire or a cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure. He did not achieve this. He is trying to show that he is a peacemaker, but so far without tangible results," Tsikas stressed. According to him, Trump's statements show that he is trying to shift the burden to Zelensky.
"Upon his return, he said it's time to see what we're going to do with Zelensky. We have a long way to go," the expert added, commenting on Trump's statements.
Theodoros Tsikas believes that the war in Ukraine will not end immediately. "Putin is demanding excessive compensation, which Ukraine and the Europeans, who will be called upon to guarantee the implementation of any agreement and to participate financially in reconstruction, will hardly accept."
The Ukrainian president has been invited to Washington on Monday for a private meeting with Donald Trump.
"Trump wants to balance the image of yesterday's meeting with Putin and show that he has something important to convey to Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president does not want to disappoint or irritate him. He wants to show that he is ready to make a good peace deal," the international affairs expert estimates.
How likely is a Trump-Putin-Zelensky meeting?
As for a possible Trump-Putin-Zelensky meeting? Theodoros Tsikas considers it quite unlikely.
"Putin is unlikely to accept a meeting with Zelensky, whom he considers politically weakened due to the extension of his mandate. Perhaps he is waiting for his successor, who he believes can be more conciliatory," Tsikas said. / Adapted from Newsbomb.gr /
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