Five takes from meeting

When President Vladimir Putin returned to the world stage on Friday, the sky was cloudy in Alaska. Waiting to wait with a red carpet spread over the Turmac of the United Aadhaar Almondorf-Richardson was US President Donald Trump.

As soon as Putin contacted, Trump clapped. The two leaders shook hands and smiled.

This was a remarkable moment for Putin-a leader that most western countries have shocked by Moscow in 2022 since the Ukraine started his full-scale invasion. His international journey has since been limited to a large extent to the Russian Federation, such as North Korea and Belarus -friendly nations.

The fact is that the Alaska summit took place in all, there was a win for Putin. But this reception must have crossed the wild dreams of Kremlin. In a small six months, Putin was welcomed on American soil like a partner and friend in the eyes of Putin West.

To shut down, in a clearly unpredited moment, Putin decided to accept a lift for the airbase in Trump’s armored limosine instead of driving in his Moscow-Plated President state car.

As soon as the vehicle pulled, the cameras swing on Putin, sitting in the backseat and laughing.

In his 25 years as a Russian President, Putin gained full control over the media, crushed the freedom of journalism and replaced information with publicity. He does not do often within Russia – if ever – comes against reporters.

Still a few minutes after landing in Alaska, a journalist shouted in his direction: “Will you stop killing citizens?” If the question harassed him, he did not show it, instead of shocking and turning his gaze.

During a brief and somewhat chaotic photo op, more questions were shouted, including a single one in the Russian whether Putin would be ready to meet President Zelansky for a tripartite summit. Then, there was no clear response to the Russian President beyond a secret smile.

The world’s media collected in the room with Putin and Trump was led to the expectation of a press conference; Instead, the two leaders made statements and did not question reporters.

Unusually, Putin was the first to speak. He praised the “creative environment of mutual respect” of the “neighbor” dialogue, and then launched in a condensed history of Alaska’s past as a Russian region.

As Putin spoke, Trump stood in silence. The Russian President mentioned that he mentioned “Status in Ukraine” – a catalyst for the summit. When he did, it was to say that although an unspecified “compromise” had reached, the “root causes” of the conflict were abolished before achieving peace.

The phrase must have closed Kiev and beyond alarm bells. Since the onset of the war, it has been shorthand for an unbreakable and a series of maximalist demands that Putin stands in the way of a ceasefire.

These include Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson as well as recognition of Russian sovereignty in Ukraine’s Ukraine regions, as well as Ukraine agreed to demonetisation, neutrality, no foreign military participation and new elections. Essentially, they are unacceptable to the amount for capitulation – but clearly – even after three and a half years of bloody conflict – is still paramount to Moscow.

With this, it was clear that there was no deal.

Exceptionally – looking at the context and base for the summit – when it was Trump’s turn to speak, he did not mention Ukraine or once referred to the possibility of ceasefire. He came to the closest to refer to the struggle that “five, six, seven thousand people in a week” died and given that Putin also wanted to see the end of bloodshed.

Usually loyal Trump looked less to say less than Putin. His statement was notable for its relatives, and unusual, brevity – but mainly for its ambiguity. Trump said, “There were many, many points that we agreed,” Trump said, “Great progress” was made in “highly productive meeting”.

But he did not share any details and did not appear to have any concrete steps taken towards the solution of Ukrainian conflict. No major agreement or tripartite meeting was announced with President Zelanski.

And – for the relief of Moscow – there was no mention of any “serious consequences” that Trump threatened that it would be followed if a ceasefire did not reach.

“We didn’t reach there,” Trump admitted.

Then, optimally though unclearly, he said: “But we have a great chance to reach there.”

The summit has failed to achieve any tangible progress towards peace in Ukraine, but it strengthened the synergy between Russia and the US.

Pictures of two presidents repeatedly shake hands and travel far on social media smiling -as images of American soldiers kneeling, stating that they used to roll the red carpet in Putin’s aircraft’s leg.

Prior to wrapping his statement, Putin referred to one of the constant points of the US President – that the struggle in Ukraine had never started Trump in power.

Despite Trump’s claim of “great progress”, nothing was unveiled at the Alaska Summit – yet the two leaders left the door open for another meeting, this time on Russian earth. “I will probably see you again again,” said Trump.

Scoring a joint statement, where they had no promise, no concession and no compromise, Putin may have felt enough to break in English – a rare event. Chakli, he looked at Trump and said: “Next time in Moscow.”

“Oh, it’s an interesting,” said Trump. “I will get some heat on it, but I – I could probably see it.”