Trump and Putin's past relationship adds an element of mystery to the upcoming Anchorage summit
In a continuation of their contentious relationship, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet face to face in Anchorage, Alaska. This will mark the seventh time the two leaders have met since Trump took office in 2017.
Their first notable encounter was during a four-hour meeting with then Secretary of State John Kerry in 2015, where Sherman, a former deputy secretary of state, had an up-close view of Putin's negotiating style. Since then, their interactions have been marked by a series of summits, each drawing attention for varying reasons.
One of the most publicised meetings was the Helsinki summit in 2018, where Trump was deferential to Putin and appeared to side with Putin's denial of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This stance was met with condemnation from across the political spectrum, and Trump tried to clarify his comment.
Trump has been vocal about his desire to broker an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, but his public statements have vacillated between close alignment with Ukraine and Europe and talking about the war in terms more sympathetic to Russia and Putin. This ambiguity has raised concerns among many, including Sherman, who fears Putin may use flattery and enticements to sway Trump.
In an attempt to pressure Russia, Trump has begun selling powerful weapons systems to NATO intended for use by Ukraine. He has also threatened to punish Russia by hiking tariffs on the main buyers of its oil exports. However, Trump has echoed Russian propaganda about Ukraine's responsibility for the war that Putin started.
Trump's relationship with Putin has seen its fair share of ups and downs. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump expressed irritation with Putin. Yet, despite these moments of tension, Trump has suggested that a follow-up summit with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could happen soon.
Trump describes the summit as a "feel-out meeting" and tempers expectations for a grand deal. He states that he would know within the first two minutes if Putin is serious about pursuing peace. However, the agreements between the two leaders during previous summits, such as the 2017 and 2018 summits, have mainly involved intentions to facilitate meetings between Putin and Zelenskyy to negotiate peace, discussions of potential territorial exchanges, and aspirations toward security guarantees for Ukraine.
Despite these efforts, no concrete peace deal or ceasefire was achieved, and significant disagreements remain unresolved. As the leaders prepare to meet once more, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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