The recent meeting in Alaska between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been widely interpreted as a strategic triumph for Putin. The global consensus views Putin as the victor, largely due to Trump’s apparent concessions. Putin’s demonstration of power during the 5-hour Alaska visit was prominent. Putin skillfully outmaneuvered Trump, leading the former president to endorse Putin’s objectives. The critical question now is, what are the consequences of Trump’s apparent alignment with Putin?
During the summit, Putin highlighted their ongoing direct communication. Trump acknowledged the enduring positive nature of his relationship with President Putin, describing the meeting as successful, with agreement on various key issues.
In Alaska, Donald Trump became ensnared in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategic diplomacy. Putin’s plan succeeded in drawing Trump to his cause, and a subsequent meeting in Moscow is in the works.
Putin’s actions have not only swayed Trump but also bought time for occupying Ukrainian territory. At Trump’s invitation, Putin arrived in Alaska where the historic summit and peace talks began. Consequently, Trump is expected to refrain from enacting new sanctions on Russia or taking other restrictive measures. Putin and his military now have a critical window of opportunity, which will enable them to escalate operations in Ukraine. This situation implies that a war that could threaten Ukraine’s very existence may precede any peace agreement.
Following the talks, Trump announced that no immediate action would be taken against Russia or nations trading with it for the next two to three weeks. This period is considered a success for Putin. Crucially, Putin secured Trump’s agreement to his every demand. Putin seeks a lasting peace treaty instead of a ceasefire, and Trump is now supporting it.
Key Outcomes of the Putin-Trump Meeting
* Putin prefers a permanent solution, not just a ceasefire.
* Putin urged Trump to find a permanent solution.
* Putin wants a lasting peace treaty with Ukraine.
* Trump agreed with Putin, supporting the treaty.
* Putin and Trump agreed to draft a peace treaty.
* They are ready to negotiate a permanent peace treaty.
It’s clear that a ceasefire depends on a permanent peace treaty, and without one, Russian attacks will intensify, leading to continued occupation. Putin, in Trump’s presence, stressed that all of Russia’s concerns, meaning all conditions, must be addressed. Therefore, a lasting peace treaty is conditional on Russia’s demands being met.
Failing to meet these conditions, and the absence of a lasting peace treaty, will result in expanded devastation. Putin appears to have obtained the green light for unrestricted destruction and occupation of Ukraine.
Russia Intensifies Military Operations in Ukraine
Further, with Trump’s support and a potential green light to devastate Ukraine, Russian forces have significantly escalated their military operations. In Lyman, Russia inflicted massive damage on a Ukrainian military unit. In Kupyansk, Russian attacks resulted in the destruction of seven Ukrainian weapons systems. The Russian army has also captured additional regions in Donetsk and has raised the victory flag in a city in Dnipro. In Kharkiv, Russia destroyed a Ukrainian command post. Within 24 hours, 1310 Ukrainian soldiers have been reported killed.
Reports suggest the Russian military is preparing for a large-scale offensive in Ukraine, potentially to begin at night. Multiple fronts have been readied for this offensive.
Ukrainian Army Retaliates Against Russian Aggression
In response to the Alaska summit’s outcome and the intensification of Russian military actions, Zelenskyy and his forces are deeply angered. Following Putin’s success in Alaska and Zelenskyy’s perceived loss, the Ukrainian army has launched attacks on Russian soil. Ukrainian forces simultaneously deployed drones across eight Russian regions, leading to explosions. The source of these explosions is believed to be Ukrainian drone attacks.
The Ukrainian attacks caused a fire at a Russian arms factory in Ryazan, resulting in 11 deaths and 130 injuries. A Russian military base in Belgorod was destroyed by Ukrainian forces. A Russian weapons depot in Volgograd was also destroyed, and buildings in Rostov were damaged due to Ukrainian drone strikes. Ukraine set fire to a Russian radar station in Kursk. Multiple explosions occurred in Astrakhan, triggering fires in various buildings. Grozny was also targeted, with Ukraine destroying two military vehicles.
These Ukrainian attacks within Russia are a reaction to Zelenskyy’s frustration, as Ukraine now understands it has no choice but to surrender. If Zelenskyy doesn’t surrender, if the lasting peace treaty isn’t signed, Russia will be positioned to occupy a significant portion of Ukraine.
