Alaska summit: nice pictures for Putin with Trump – but no ceasefire

The expectations of the summit of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump were huge. But after the almost three -hour conversation in Alaska, one thing remained primarily when asked about results: the question mark – and also pictures that are possibly more valuable to Putin than any written agreement. The President of the US President, who has been waging a war against Ukraine since February 2022, offered the big stage on American soil.

In terms of content, shortly after the meeting of the two, there was a lot in the city at a military base in the city of Anchorage. “There is no deal until there is a deal,” said Trump – the self -explanation of deal makers and peace pencils – only in the subsequent press statement. One had had an “extremely productive meeting”, “many points” were agreed, only a few are still open – one of them particularly significant. First, however, he wanted to make calls with the NATO allies and Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj.

Trump did not speak about new tariffs against Russia or their trading partners. As little as possible, he said to exchange prisoners. The US President did not even put the word “ceasefire” into his mouth. This was exactly the key point that Kiev and the European allies had insisted on: an unconditional and fire break is a prerequisite for them to enter into further negotiations with the Kremlin. Putin, on the other hand, has repeatedly made it clear to categorically reject it. For a ceasefire, he demands about an end to the western arms deliveries to Ukraine and a stop of mobilization in the country.

In Alaska, too, Putin stayed Hart at his course, initially wanted to eliminate the “causes” of the conflict. In the press statement, the Kremlin chief was grateful that Trump tries to penetrate these roots. Like his host, Putin did not respond to that of Selenskyj, the Europeans – and before the meeting also from Trump – required comprehensive ceasefire. At the same time, he assured that he wanted to end the war. After all, he admitted that the security of Ukraine must also be taken into account.

Trump allows Putin a friendly staging

Pictures of high symbolic power took the place. Trump – entirely the entertainer – staged the first encounter of an incumbent US president with the Kremlin chief for a good four years as a friendly meeting at eye level. The Air Force One had long since landed, but the Republican took the time to get out – until the Russian machine had also arrived with Putin.

The Russian president received a red carpet, an extensive handshake and then a – rather unusual – ride in the armored president limousine in the diplomatic protocol. The joint statement took place in front of the slogan “Pursuing Peace” printed in large letters – “strive for peace” in the war that Trump’s guest hired himself. Also striking: the Republican admitted the cremal chief when talking before the press. Putin took the opportunity and spoke twice as long as his host. Questions were not admitted.

Trump rehabilitates one in the west

The US President gave Putin the statesmen legitimacy that Europe has been refusing to do for years. It is noteworthy that he publicly prepared the stage of the war by the west of the warfareers in this way. Putin has been an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court in the Hague since March 2023 – mainly because of the allegation of being responsible for the kidnapping of thousands of children from occupied Ukrainian areas. Unlike the European Union or Canada, which borders directly on Alaska, neither the United States nor Russia recognizes the Court of Justice. Washington is therefore not obliged to implement the arrest warrant.

Trump warehouse continues to wait for progress

The Republican actually needed concrete progress, even in front of his own followers. In the election campaign, he had repeatedly tinted to be able to end the war within 24 hours. His “Make America Great Again” camp is still behind him, but in the end it also expects any results.

The fact that there was an imbalance in this regard in Alaska, even at Trump’s right house and farm broadcaster Fox news. It seemed as if Putin came to the press hall and “overwhelmed everything”. He said everything he wanted to say, commented on a reporter. “And then he had his photography photographed next to the president and went.”

For the time being there are no judgments to a new personal relationship

In the months before the summit, the Republican had repeatedly sent out contradictory signals. Sometimes he praised the Kremlin boss openly and showed admiration for his appearance and leadership style. Then, according to the broadcaster NBC News, he said that he was literally “pissed off” by Putin – and accused him of showing a friendly face in conversations with the USA about peace negotiations in the Ukraine war, only to then let bombs throw back on Ukraine again. Most recently, the US President had exerted the threat of tariffs on important trading partners in Russia.

At least on the stage there was no trace of this demonstration of the strength. Trump looked unusually reserved, rather pale. Putin, on the other hand, already had the next meeting in mind. He wanted to continue his trusting exchange with the US President – maybe next time in Moscow, Putin teased in English. Trump did not refuse and immediately started working on his narrative: In a TV interview, he gave the summit a grade of 10 out of 10.