Cliff Notes Putin and Trump meeting in Alaska
- Ukrainians are appalled by Donald Trump‘s meeting with Vladimir Putin, viewing it as a betrayal by an ally while the Russian leader is honoured on the world stage.
- Ukraine seeks a ceasefire, security guarantees, and reparations from these talks, but there is uncertainty about achieving any of these goals.
- Critics highlight a lack of expertise in the Trump administration’s approach, with a novice diplomat being relied upon as Russia prepares its experienced negotiators.
While Russia sends its heavyweights to Alaska, the US is relying on a novice
For Ukrainians, the spectacle of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump meeting in Alaska will be repugnant.
The man behind an unprovoked invasion of their country is being honoured with a return to the world stage by the leader of a country that was meant to be their ally.
And they feel let down.
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President Trump had threatened severe sanctions on Russia within 50 days if Russia didn’t agree to a deal. He had seemed close to imposing them before letting Putin wriggle off the hook yet again.
But they are not surprised. At every stage, Trump has either sided with Russia or at least given them the benefit of the doubt.
It is clear that Putin has some kind of hold over this American president, in their minds and many others.
Ukraine wants three things out of these talks. A ceasefire, security guarantees and reparations. It is not clear at this stage that they will get any of them.
Ukrainians and their European allies are appalled at the naive and cack-handed diplomacy that has preceded this meeting.
Vladimir Putin is sending a team of foreign affairs heavyweights, adept at getting the better of opponents in negotiations.
There are, the Financial Times reported this week, no Russia specialists left at the Trump White House.
Instead, Trump is relying on Steve Witkoff, a real estate lawyer and foreign policy novice, who has demonstrated a haphazard mastery of his brief and breathtaking credulity with the Russians.
