Russia‘s reaction to the recent summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska has been overwhelmingly positive, with Moscow celebrating the fact that the Russian leader met his US counterpart without making any concessions.
Despite Trump’s warnings of “severe consequences” if Moscow refused to cooperate, Putin emerged from the meeting unscathed, with no new sanctions imposed.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev took to Telegram to express his satisfaction with the outcome, writing, “the meeting proved that negotiations are possible without preconditions.”
Medvedev further emphasized that the summit demonstrated the possibility of continuing talks while Russia wages war in Ukraine.
The summit itself was marked by high stakes, with Trump entering the meeting warning, “I won’t be happy if I walk away without some form of a ceasefire.”
However, after a three-hour meeting with the Russian side that yielded no tangible results, Trump set aside his threats and instead described the meeting as “extremely productive.”
This assessment was echoed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who called the meeting “very positive” and noted that both leaders had made exhaustive statements.
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov were seen sitting in the front row of the venue, with Belousov reportedly in an “excellent” mood after the meeting.
Despite the lack of concrete outcomes, Putin expressed his willingness to end the war in Ukraine, but emphasized that the root causes behind the conflict must be addressed.
Trump, on the other hand, claimed that many points were agreed upon, but a few significant issues remained unresolved. He emphasized that it was now up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to move the process forward.
Zelenskyy has accepted an invitation to meet with Trump in Washington D.C. to discuss ending the conflict.
The international community has reacted to the summit with a mix of hope and disappointment. Some leaders have expressed cautious optimism about the potential for future talks, while others have criticized the lack of concrete progress.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide noted that the meeting revealed Putin’s true motives and mindset, emphasizing the need for continued pressure on Russia.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, however, praised the summit, stating that the world is a safer place when the US and Russia engage in dialogue at the highest level.
The summit has also sparked debate about the role of European leaders in facilitating a peace deal.
Ukrainian lawmakers have expressed concerns about potential territorial concessions, with some warning that Putin’s demands could lead to further conflict.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the fate of Ukraine and the broader region hangs in the balance, and the international community’s response will have far-reaching implications.