Against the backdrop of battles in and the fear of a “redesign” of Ukrainian borders, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, in a tet-a-tete that can determine the course of war-or evolve into a missed opportunity.
A few hours before the meeting, Ukraine is confronted with increasing military pressure. Authorities in Kiev have ordered new evacuations in the Donetsk region, as the advance of Russian troops has accelerated in recent days.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump appeared confident that Putin “would not play with him” and argued that if he was not the president himself, “Russia would attempt to understand the whole of Ukraine.”
The betting bet
The meeting at Elmenorf-Richardson Air Base, near Anchorage, will be behind closed doors, in the presence of only interpreters. The “settlement of the Ukrainian crisis” and bilateral issues will be on the table. There will be a working meal and a joint press conference – the first of the two leaders after Helsinki in 2018.
Trump has stated that he will know in the “first five minutes” if the meeting will perform. For their former Ambassador to Poland, Daniel Fried, the risk is to talk about a “missed opportunity” if Putin uses the time to gain an advantage in the field.
The absence of Zelenski and the fears of Europe
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski has not been invited. Ukraine and several European leaders are concerned that, without its own presence, Trump and Putin can proceed with backstage agreements on Ukrainian territories.
Speaking to Fox News Radio, Trump said that he “does not want to use the term sharing” but left open the possibility of territorial concessions under an agreement. His goal, he said, is a future trilateral summit with the participation of Ukraine.
Russian claims and Ukrainian denial
Moscow calls for the recognition of its sovereignty in four regions that partially possesses – Donecke, Luhank, Zaporizia and Hersona – as well as to Crimea, which annexed in 2014. In addition, it requires the cessation of Western equipment and the abandonment of the Ukrainian course.
Kiev rejects these claims as “unacceptable” and, after three rounds of negotiations, all that has been achieved so far are prisoners.
In the field of battles
On Thursday, Russia announced the occupation of two more communities in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian forces are trying to intercept the rapid advance, while civilian discharges continue.
