US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet face-to-face in Alaska on August 15th. This marks the first time the two leaders will meet on American soil. The aim of this historic meeting is to attempt to end the ongoing Ukraine war, which has been raging for three and a half years. However, whether this war will truly end remains uncertain. Trump has previously warned Putin that failure to agree to a ceasefire would result in serious consequences. Convincing Putin, however, will be a challenge. He is considered a highly experienced and shrewd politician, and underestimating him would be a mistake. Experts suggest that Putin will likely attempt to outmaneuver his less experienced American counterpart during the meeting. Let’s examine the potential offers Trump might present to Putin.
Trump’s potential offers to Putin:
First: According to The Telegraph, Donald Trump might propose offering mineral resources and natural resources of Alaska in exchange for peace. This proposal may include granting Putin access to rare minerals present in the Ukrainian regions currently under Russian control.
Ukraine is estimated to hold approximately 10 percent of the world’s lithium reserves, used in battery production. The two largest lithium reserves are located in areas under Russian control. Putin has also laid claim to the valuable minerals found in these regions.
Second: According to Times Magazine, Trump is prepared to allow Russia to retain the territories it has already seized in Ukraine, though without official recognition. This includes Russia’s complete control over four Ukrainian regions, Ukraine’s permanent neutrality, and restrictions on its military. News reports also indicate that before the Alaska meeting was arranged, Russia offered Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, a peace proposal. This offer suggested that Russia would halt the war if Ukraine ceded the Donbas region. However, Ukraine outright rejected this proposal.
Third: Trump is preparing to assure Putin that he can remove the economic and trade sanctions imposed by European countries on Russia after its attack on Ukraine. According to a report in The Telegraph, the United States may also consider lifting sanctions specifically on Russia’s aviation sector. Trump previously gave Putin a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire.