Putin-Trump Summit Corners Ukraine Into Cutting Deal, Warns Off Europe From Meddling
© AP Photo / Jae C. Hong
The Alaska meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump showed signs of progress facilitated by the personal rapport between the two leaders—helping mend the rift left by the Biden era’s abrasive language, financial analyst Paul Goncharoff noted.
After the Russia-US summit, the heat is on Zelensky to “make a deal soon,” Paul Goncharoff, general director of Goncharoff LLC, told Sputnik.
War hawks in Europe “appeared to be partially warned off interfering” in US diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Goncharoff underscored that Donald Trump is in a position to “punish economically and militarily” both Ukraine and Europe unless they roll back some of their demands.
While progress was made and Russia’s position acknowledged, what happens next hinges on three factors:
Zelensky’s fate—increasingly shaky on the domestic front
Europe’s role—whether it chooses to intervene and prolong the conflict
A most likely scenario is the conflict ending with a Russian victory that would see Donbass secured, a buffer zone in place, and bring long-overdue elections in Ukraine—under security guarantees that bar NATO membership, according to the pundit..
“In short—Russia achieves its objectives over a conflict that Europe should never have become involved with and should always have remained a small regional issue for Moscow to deal with. Trump, it appears, has taken that on board,” Goncharoff said.
The Putin-Trump summit signals that the US has effectively "accepted Russia’s victory in Ukraine conflict,” Dr. Hriday Sarma, international affairs and energy geo-economics expert, told Sputnik.
The meeting that both leaders have hailed as “productive” underscored that Russia is indispensable to any peace process. With Ukraine excluded from the talks, the decisive conversation is between Russia and the US.
Western attempts to isolate Russia have failed, and Moscow retains centrality in global affairs and the world oil and gas market, added the pundit.
Beyond the US–Russia track, attention is shifting to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (CSO) summit in Tianjin, China, where a potential meeting between India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping could expand this new wave of high-level diplomacy across Eurasia, the expert said.
“The Alaska summit has confirmed Russia’s restored role as a central global powerbroker,” Sarma noted.
🚨📹 Trumps says meeting with Putin went so well that he won’t have to think about new secondary sanctions for another 2-3 weeks https://t.co/XiQPVUicn0 pic.twitter.com/BA7ywkH1ej
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) August 16, 2025
The real achievement of the Putin-Trump Alaska meeting was proving that dialogue remains possible in tackling the challenges of a new world order, Tiberio Graziani, chairman at Vision and Global Trends – International Institute for Global Analyses, told Sputnik.
“It may even signal the dawn of a renewed era of diplomacy.”
The meeting left the impression that there is positive personal chemistry between the two leaders, the pundit noted. But whether the Putin-Trump summit becomes a springboard for real peace depends on clearing major hurdles, he explained.
The meeting rattled Europe’s war hawks, furious at being “excluded.” Trump still faces pushback from his own domestic opponents and European allies clinging to their “until victory” stance against Russia.
https://web.archive.org/web/20250817034322/https://sputnikglobe.com/20250816/putin-trump-summit-corners-ukraine-into-cutting-deal-warns-off-europe-from-meddling--1122629354.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20250817034322/https://sputnikglobe.com/20250816/putin-trump-summit-corners-ukraine-into-cutting-deal-warns-off-europe-from-meddling--1122629354.html
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Putin & Trump Find Common Ground as West’s War Party Shut Out - Analyst
Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump took place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska. Russia acknowledged positive, constructive dialogue between the sides, while Donald Trump hailed significant progress toward a Ukraine settlement.
The Putin-Trump meeting shows the West “gambled on an easy victory over Russia and lost,” Mikael Valtersson, a Swedish Armed Forces veteran, told Sputnik.
Both Russia and America have signalled satisfaction with the summit as a step forward towards a real peaceful solution of the Ukraine conflict, he noted.
“Those that wanted more isolation and sanctions against Russia, if Russia didn't agree to Western demands, didn't have their way,” the former defence politician and chief of staff with Sweden Democrats emphasized.
The “Western war party” had hoped for new harsh sanctions on Russia and those trading with it, but instead what can be seen is improving relations between Russia and the US, as well as a continued peace process.
After Donald Trump talks with his European allies and Ukraine, they will be faced with a choice, Valtersson said.
They can either support the peace process by accepting the realities on the ground and legitimate interests of Russia, or reject it. If they choose the latter, they will isolate themselves from not only the majority of the world, but especially from the US.
“Hopefully the cooler heads in Ukraine and Europe will realize that it's better to follow the US and accept reality, than continue a lost war,” Valtersson concluded.
🇷🇺✈️ Putin landed in the United States for the FIRST TIME IN YEARS.
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) August 15, 2025
Here’s how Trump greeted him in Alaska:🧵 pic.twitter.com/rNiQef13bN
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s reunion made clear they’d missed the bond from years past, psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman told Sputnik.
“When President Putin and President Trump approached each other… their body language showed a very open and warm receptiveness,” the Beverly Hills best-selling author said.
The two leaders shook hands multiple times, touched each other’s arms, and smiled—a clear signal they’d missed the connection they had during Trump’s first presidency.
Lieberman noted the direct eye contact, standing close marked an “auspicious beginning that foretold a positive meeting.”
Even after three hours of serious talks, their joint press conference carried the same energy. Both turned slightly toward one another, as if to emphasize unity.
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Trump Hails Alaska Summit as Perfect 10
13 hours ago (Updated: 13 hours ago)
© POOL /
President Donald Trump revealed significant progress toward a Ukraine settlement while warning that Zelensky must "make a deal" in a pivotal Fox News interview following his Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin.Trump emphasized that the ball is now in Ukraine’s court, stating Zelensky must confront the reality that he has a lot to lose by prolonging the conflict.The president advised Kiev to negotiate, citing Russia’s superior military and nuclear power as non-negotiable factors demanding pragmatism."I think we've agreed on a lot and I can tell you the meeting was a very warm meeting. Between two very important countries. I think we're pretty close to it now look Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they'll say no because Biden handed out money like it was candy and Europe gave him a lot of money. We gave him $350 Billion. Europe gave him much less but still a lot $100 Billion"
European nations were also urged to contribute to the settlement, with Trump noting a "fairly high probability" of success if all parties align.He hinted at personally mediating future Putin-Zelensky talks, framing a resolution as a legacy achievement for both leaders.
https://web.archive.org/web/20250816163137/https://sputnikglobe.com/20250816/trump-hails-alaska-summit-as-perfect-10-1122625562.html
13 hours ago (Updated: 13 hours ago)
© POOL
/ President Donald Trump revealed significant progress toward a Ukraine settlement while warning that Zelensky must "make a deal" in a pivotal Fox News interview following his Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin.
Trump emphasized that the ball is now in Ukraine’s court, stating Zelensky must confront the reality that he has a lot to lose by prolonging the conflict.
The president advised Kiev to negotiate, citing Russia’s superior military and nuclear power as non-negotiable factors demanding pragmatism.
"I think we've agreed on a lot and I can tell you the meeting was a very warm meeting. Between two very important countries. I think we're pretty close to it now look Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they'll say no because Biden handed out money like it was candy and Europe gave him a lot of money. We gave him $350 Billion. Europe gave him much less but still a lot $100 Billion"
European nations were also urged to contribute to the settlement, with Trump noting a "fairly high probability" of success if all parties align.
He hinted at personally mediating future Putin-Zelensky talks, framing a resolution as a legacy achievement for both leaders.
https://web.archive.org/web/20250816163137/https://sputnikglobe.com/20250816/trump-hails-alaska-summit-as-perfect-10-1122625562.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20250816163137/https://sputnikglobe.com/20250816/trump-hails-alaska-summit-as-perfect-10-1122625562.html
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