Alaska summit with Putin Trump's real test as peacemaker

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2 days ago

With the Ukraine war unresolved and skepticism mounting, Trump's bid to cement a legacy of peacemaker enters a defining moment at the Alaska summit
As US President Donald Trump prepares for a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, questions are mounting about his self-proclaimed role as a global peacemaker.
The president has consistently portrayed himself as a global peacemaker and openly expresses his ambition to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
'My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier,' he had said during his second inaugural address. 'That's what I want to be: a peacemaker and a unifier.'
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In the run up to the US presidential elections, he had claimed he would resolve the Ukraine war within 24 hours of starting his second term. He then revised that timeline to 100 days and now, more than 200 days later, he remains uncertain about securing even a partial agreement.
Despite repeated boasts of being able to end the war in Ukraine swiftly, Trump now appears to be tempering expectations — calling the Alaska summit a 'feel out' meeting rather than a breakthrough moment.
On Thursday, Trump expressed optimism about his upcoming meeting with Putin, saying he expects 'a good meeting.' However, he emphasised that the most important discussions will follow — those involving Russia, Ukraine, and potentially European leaders.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump described his negotiations with Putin and Zelenskyy as being 'like chess.'
'This meeting sets up the second meeting. The second meeting is going to be very, very important, because that's going to be a meeting where they make a deal,' Trump was quoted as saying.
'But there is a 25 per cent chance this meeting will not be a successful meeting," he added.
Meanwhile, Putin on Thursday praised Trump's 'sincere efforts' to broker peace in Ukraine, according to a readout obtained by NBC News. He said those efforts could lay the groundwork for lasting peace between the US, Russia, and Europe, especially if talks expand to include strategic weapons treaties.
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However, some European officials remain wary, warning that Trump could be outmaneuvered by Putin during Friday's meeting.
Trump's claims on military conflicts
Those doubts are compounded by Trump's unverified claims of diplomatic success, including his assertion that he helped resolve six international military conflicts in just over six months— claims largely unsupported by independent diplomatic or military records.
'I've solved six wars in the last six months, a little more than six months now, and I'm very proud of it,' Trump said in the Oval office on Thursday.
Last month, during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland, Trump claimed, 'If I weren't around, you'd have, right now, six major wars going on. India would be fighting with Pakistan.'
He credited his diplomatic efforts — often involving trade pressure — as key to de-escalating tensions worldwide.
According to White House officials, Trump has been involved in facilitating ceasefire deals or diplomatic agreements between several countries, including Thailand and Cambodia, Iran and Israel, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Egypt and Ethiopia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and even indirect talks between the US and the Houthis in Yemen.
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Last week, Trump brought the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to the White House to secure a peace agreement between the long-hostile countries, the sixth such deal of his second term, although his exact role in at least one case is in dispute.
India has repeatedly dismissed Trump's claim that he played a role in averting military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
His efforts have fallen short in ending two of the most high-profile conflicts: the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
Trump today faces one of his most formidable challenges yet as he meets with Putin in a bid to end the war in Ukraine.
Known for calling himself the 'president of peace,' Trump has shifted focus to global conflicts, driven by a belief that US influence can bring them to an end, Politico quoted a White House official as saying.
The move marks a sharp departure from his 2024 campaign stance, when he prioritised an 'America First' agenda and largely downplayed foreign involvements.
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Desire for Nobel Peace Prize
Trump's turn of attention to settling conflicts also stems in part from his desire to win a Nobel Peace Prize, which he has long sought.
Trump, in his pursuit, went so far as to cold-call Norway's finance minister last month to ask about a nomination for the Nobel peace prize, Norwegian press reported on Thursday.
The Nobel Peace Prize has become a favoured tool for foreign leaders seeking to gain favour with President Trump.
At least six world leaders involved in recent diplomatic agreements have either nominated Trump or publicly backed his nomination, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Manet put Trump forward after the president pressured Cambodia and neighboring Thailand to resolve a border dispute by threatening to suspend trade negotiations.
Trump's repeated hints at deserving a Nobel Peace Prize have sparked criticism, especially as his supporters amplify the narrative despite a lack of diplomatic victories.
The stakes are high at the Alaska summit, not only for Ukraine but for Trump's credibility as a dealmaker.
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US officials and foreign policy analysts remain wary of the one-on-one nature of the discussions with Putin — a seasoned geopolitical operator with a background in the KGB, known for his hard-nosed approach to diplomacy.
As both leaders prepare to meet, the world will be watching closely — not just for signs of peace, but for whether Trump can truly live up to the legacy he claims to seek.
With inputs from agencies