President Donald Trump warmly greeted Vladimir Putin at an Alaskan airbase. The two leaders appeared enthusiastic during their meeting. A notable event was when Putin and Trump rode in the same car to their meeting location, which could raise concerns among European countries, who are already worried about Putin potentially striking deals that favor his interests during a face-to-face meeting. The meeting, occurring after six years, has sparked international interest.
Kirill Dmitriev, a top Russian negotiator, stated that the discussions would extend beyond Ukraine and economic matters. TASS reported, citing a source, that the two leaders will also discuss global strategic security. Trump had previously indicated he would leave the meeting if the summit didn’t go well, but both leaders appeared cheerful and positive. While the U.S. has portrayed the meeting as being solely for peace, Trump is known as a skilled businessman, suggesting a hidden agenda within the meeting.
RDIF CEO Dmitriev mentioned that they are considering restoring relations between Russia and the United States. Therefore, the agenda encompasses not just economic issues and Ukraine but also ways to re-establish Russia-U.S. relations. Such a development could be highly beneficial for both countries’ economies. However, if the discussions remain centered on these issues, Ukraine’s position might be weakened.
The meeting between the two leaders could last up to 7 hours. According to Peskov, other topics of discussion between the presidents include bilateral Russia-U.S. relations, potential joint economic projects, and other regional and international issues.