The Alaska meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been widely interpreted as a victory for Putin. The world perceives Putin as the victor, mainly due to Trump’s apparent agreement with Putin’s demands. Putin’s strategic display during the 5-hour Alaska visit was significant. Putin used his diplomacy to influence Trump, and this has led Trump to openly support Putin’s agenda. The key question is, if Trump is now in agreement with Putin, what will be the consequences for the ongoing conflict?
During the meeting, Putin highlighted that he and Trump have maintained direct communication. Trump stated that his relationship with President Putin had always been strong, and their discussions were successful, with agreement on many matters.
In Alaska, Donald Trump became entangled in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic strategy. Putin’s plan to gain Trump’s support succeeded, and a follow-up meeting has been scheduled for Moscow.
Putin’s maneuvers have not only swayed Trump but also bought time to take control of Ukrainian territory. At Trump’s invitation, Putin arrived in Alaska, where the historic meeting and peace negotiations began. Trump is expected to refrain from imposing new sanctions on Russia or taking any strong measures. Putin and his military forces have gained a crucial window of opportunity to intensify their military actions in Ukraine. This could mean that a war that threatens Ukraine’s existence may precede any peace treaty.
Trump announced after the talks that no immediate action will be taken against Russia or countries trading with Russia for the next two to three weeks. This is seen as a victory for Putin. The most important factor was Putin’s ability to get Trump to agree with his conditions. Putin does not want a ceasefire but a permanent peace treaty, and Trump has agreed to this.
Key Points from the Putin-Trump Meeting
* Putin seeks a permanent solution, not a ceasefire.
* Putin requested that Trump seek a permanent solution.
* Putin wants a permanent peace treaty with Ukraine.
* Trump agreed with Putin and supports the treaty.
* Putin and Trump agreed to draft a peace treaty.
* They are prepared to negotiate the draft of a permanent peace treaty.
It is clear that there will be no ceasefire until a permanent peace treaty is signed, and if there is no ceasefire, Russian attacks will intensify. The Russian military will continue to occupy Ukrainian territories. Putin stated in front of Trump that all of Russia’s concerns, all of its conditions, must be taken into consideration. This implies a permanent peace treaty will only be agreed upon if all of Russia’s terms are met.
If the conditions are not met and a permanent peace treaty is not achieved, the destruction will increase, indicating that Putin has gained the authority to devastate and seize Ukraine without limitations.
Russia Intensifies Military Action in Ukraine
Furthermore, with Trump’s support and a potential green light for the destruction of Ukraine, Russian forces have escalated their military operations. In Lyman, Russia launched a devastating attack, destroying a Ukrainian military unit. In Kupyansk, Russian attacks destroyed seven Ukrainian weapons systems. The Russian army has taken control of more regions in Donetsk and has raised the victory flag in a city in Dnipro. In Kharkiv, Russia destroyed a Ukrainian command post. Over 24 hours, 1310 Ukrainian soldiers were killed.
According to reports, the Russian military is preparing for a large-scale offensive in Ukraine, possibly to begin overnight. For this, the Russian military has deployed troops on multiple fronts.
Ukrainian Forces Retaliate
Following the outcomes of the Alaska summit and the Russian military’s increased attacks, Zelenskyy and his forces are severely angered. With Putin’s victory in Alaska and Zelenskyy’s perceived loss, the Ukrainian army launched attacks within Russia. The Ukrainian military simultaneously used drones to detonate explosives in eight Russian regions. These explosions caused damage to several vehicles. The explosions are believed to be the result of Ukrainian drone strikes.
The Ukrainian attacks ignited a fire at a Russian arms factory in Ryazan, resulting in 11 deaths and 130 injuries. Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian military base in Belgorod. A Russian weapons depot was destroyed in Volgograd. Several 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, resulting in fires. Ukraine attacked Grozny, destroying two military vehicles.
These Ukrainian attacks within Russia are a result of Zelenskyy’s frustration because Ukraine knows it is now left with no other option but to surrender. If Zelenskyy does not surrender, and a permanent peace treaty is not signed, Russia will be given the chance to occupy a large part of Ukraine.