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The National
23 minutes ago
- The National
No ceasefire deal baked in Alaska but first steps taken towards peace
There was a fly-past by America's bunker-busting B2 stealth bomber as President Donald Trump gave a red-carpet welcome in Alaska to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But there was no deal. No talk of a ceasefire and no prospect of the guns falling silent in Ukraine after three-and-half years. Hours before Friday's meeting, 97 Iran-designed Shahed drones struck Ukrainian cities causing civilian casualties, Kyiv said. However, direct dialogue has begun between two leading players in the conflict that has claimed more than 300,000 lives and the Anchorage meeting could be a first step on the path to peace. Clearly, something was agreed between the leaders, with both alluding to a deal after their two-hour meeting. Brotherly nations At the subsequent 12-minute long press conference, Mr Putin admitted that it might sound strange for him to address the country Russia had invaded as a 'brotherly nation' but he wanted to 'pave the path to peace in Ukraine'. He also addressed western fears by stating that the 'security of Ukraine should be ensured as well and we welcome that' while calling on European nations 'not to torpedo the process'. Mr Trump then sent a torpedo by stating that 'one very significant' point had not been agreed. 'We have not quite got there … there's no deal until there's a deal,' he said. He did not, as Europe and Ukraine feared, concede land without their agreement. The western diplomacy in Europe this week had clearly rubbed off on him, with Europe's leaders urging Mr Trump not to give Mr Putin ground. No doubt it will emerge what the tentative peace proposals are after Mr Trump explains the discussions in calls to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the European leaders on Saturday. He told the Alaska press conference it was 'extremely productive' meeting and stuck to his aim of wanting to 'stop thousands of people being killed'. Bombers overhead Lost among the words, was a tangible symbolic moment of the trip, when, as Mr Trump led his counterpart along the red carpet a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber accompanied by four F-35 fighters, flew over their heads. That the B-2s had returned from bombing Iran several thousand miles away without detection in June would not have been lost on the Russian president. It was a blunt warning that the US remans the world's leading military power. Clearly, Mr Trump carries a big stick, as his predecessor Teddy Roosevelt is supposed to have advised, but his Russian counterpart wields a sharp political blade honed by decades of survival in the Kremlin. 'Next time in Moscow,' Mr Putin quipped at the end of the no-questions press conference. If Mr Trump has stealth in his aircraft, Mr Putin certainly possess the political cunning of equal worth, seeming to catch his opposite number off guard and perhaps netting himself another excellent photo opportunity. Beast riders There were also memorable moments during the summit that will be picked over for their symbolism. Mr Trump clapping Mr Putin as he disembarked, the pair chatting in English and then getting into the US President's Beast limousine together as bodyguards looked on. That there was a joint press conference also suggests that Mr Trump felt enough has been achieved to merit it, rather than his previous threat of a solo appearance if there had been no Russian compliance. But Mr Putin secured a significant propaganda victory in the very act of landing on US soil and being treated as an equal with the leader of the West. Quietly forgotten by US authorities was that this was a man wanted for alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Jaw-jaw In a subsequent interview with Fox News Mr Trump claimed 'a lot of points were agreed on' but that there were 'one or two pretty significant items' left to resolve. 'I think we are pretty close to a deal. Now look, Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they will say no … Now it's up to President Zelensky to get it done,' he added. There might also be a land swap, Mr Trump said 'those are points that we largely agreed on' as well as setting up a meeting between Mr Zelenskyy and Mr Putin. The question is how good has Mr Trump's judgment been on this? Has he inadvertently given a pariah leader status and absolution for his war? Or has he opened the path to dialogue to end a war that has caused so much death and damage? Some suggest Winston Churchill's saying about 'jaw-jaw not war-war' is an inspiration of the Alaska summit, that ending the destruction trumps all else. There is, of course, for Mr Trump the allure of bagging a Nobel Peace prize and if that's the price that needs to be paid to end the suffering, there will be few detractors on its awarding. Perhaps after so many deaths, so much war and with Russia's economy faltering, Mr Putin, too, is looking for a way to end the conflict, maybe temporarily, and Mr Trump has given him the signposts to the off-ramp for that.
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Philippine VP Sara Duterte embarks on Kuwait trip amid questions on frequent travels
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday (August 15) landed in Kuwait to meet with overseas Filipinos — a trip her office described as 'lawful and aligned with her responsibilities in public service.' This comes amid growing scrutiny from Malacañang and Congress of the Vice President's frequent foreign travels In a statement on Saturday (August 16), the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said Duterte was in the Middle Eastern country to join Filipinos there for a gathering to discuss their concerns. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. "As part of the vice president's mandate to represent and advocate for the welfare of all Filipinos, including those overseas, it is essential that she remains actively engaged with the Filipino migrant communities wherever they may be," the statement read. The OVP added that Duterte's official engagements comply with government rules and regulations are "lawful and aligned with her responsibilities in public service." "No public funds are used for all her travels overseas," it added. Duterte's office also maintained that it is part of the vice president's mandate to engage with migrant communities. After her Kuwait visit, Duterte is expected to continue working on the release of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was 'forcibly taken from Philippine soil,' according to the statement. VP trips questioned after ICC arrest The statement comes as questions mount over the vice president's frequent travels abroad following the arrest of her father, Rodrigo Duterte, by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The elder Duterte is detained at the ICC in The Hague, the Netherlands, facing allegations of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration's drug war. Critics have called out her 'habitual absence' due to her frequent trips abroad. Malacañang previously hit back at Duterte after she defended her travels and claimed that overseas Filipinos were frustrated with the country's state. Duterte addressed the criticisms by saying she was visiting Filipino communities overseas who were 'frustrated with what's happening in our country.'
Middle East Eye
7 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Arab and Islamic countries condemn Netanyahu's plans for a greater Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's expansionist plans for a 'Greater Israel have been condemned by a coalition that includes 31 Arab and Islamic countries and the Arab League. 'These statements represent a grave disregard for, and a blatant and dangerous violation of the rules of international law and the foundations of stable international relations', they all said in a joint statement. 'They also constitute a direct threat to Arab national security, to the sovereignty of states, and to regional and international peace and security.' Netanyahu's vision for a greater Israel includes the West Bank, Gaza, Syria's Golan Heights,and potentially parts of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and Jordan.
