Wetin Putin and Trump dey try to achieve for Alaska?

BBC News

3 days ago

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin go travel to Friday summit in di US state of Alaska wit different needs as dem dey prepare to meet on di ending Russia war for Ukraine.
Putin don dey consistent on im desire to win Ukrainian territory, while Trump no make am secret for im desire to act as global peacemaker.
But both men fit also sense oda opportunities, such as diplomatic rehabilitation on di world stage on di part of Putin. Second-guessing as Trump dey aim harder, as e recently make doubting statements about im Russian counterpart.
Na hia we look at wetin di two leaders fit want from di meeting.
Putin dey eye international recognition... and more
By Russia editor Steve Rosenberg
Di first tin Putin want from dis summit na sometin dem don already give am.
And dat na recognition.
Recognition from di world most powerful kontri, America, dat Western efforts to isolate di Kremlin leader don fail.
Di fact say dis high-level meeting dey happun na testament to dat. Di Kremlin fit argue say Russia don come back to di top table of global politics.
"So much for being isolated," di tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets dis week tok.
Also, Putin don secure US-Russia summit, for one prime location. Alaska get so much to offer di Kremlin.
First, security. At di closest point, mainland Alaska na just 90km (55 miles) from Russia Chukotka. Vladimir Putin fit get there witout flying ova "hostile" nations.
Second, na long way – very long way - from Ukraine and Europe. Dat one sit well wit di Kremlin determination to side line Kyiv and EU leaders, and deal directly wit America.
Historical symbolism also dey, too. Di fact say Tsarist Russia sell Alaska to America in di 19th Century, Moscow dey justify dia attempt to change di borders by force in di 21st Century.
"Alaska na clear example say state borders fit change, and dat large territories fit switch ownership," Moskovsky Komsomolets write.
But Putin want more dan just international recognition and symbols.
E want victory. E don dey insist say Russia keep all di land wey dem seize and occupy for four Ukrainian regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson) and dat Kyiv withdraw from di parts of dose regions wey still dey under Ukrainian control.
For Ukraine dis dey unacceptable. "Ukrainians no go give dia land to di occupier," di kontri president, Volodymyr Zelensky tok.
Di Kremlin know say. But if dem secure Trump support for dia territorial demands, di calculation be say Ukraine rejection fit Trump cut all di support for Kyiv. Meanwhile, Russia and di US go get on wit boosting relations and developing economic cooperation.
But anoda scenario.
Russia economy dey under pressure. Di budget deficit dey rise, income from oil and gas exports dey fall.
If economic problem dey push Putin to end di war, Kremlin fit compromise.
For now, no sign of dat - wit Russian officials continuing to insist say Russia hold di initiative on di battlefield.
Trump seek chance to claim progress toward peace
By North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher
Trump famously promise during im 2024 presidential campaign say im go end di Ukraine war easily and if e fit do am in a matter of days.
Di promise dey hang ova di American president efforts to resolve di conflict, as e alternate between frustration wit di Ukrainians and di Russians since returning to di White House in January.
E address Zelensky at di dramatic White House meeting for February, and later temporarily suspended military aid and intelligence wit di war-torn nation.
In recent months, e don dey more critical of Putin's stronghead and willingness to attack civilian targets, setting di series of deadlines for new sanctions on di Russians and oda nations wey dey do business wit dem. Last Friday na di most recent deadline, and as wit all di ones bifor am, Trump ultimately back away.
Now e dey host di Russian president on American soil and e dey tok about "land-swapping", e dey fear Ukraine say e fit consist of land concessions in exchange for peace.
So, any discussion about wetin Trump want during dis Friday meeting wit Putin go clear di president doubting statements and actions.
Dis week, Trump don make collective effort to lower di expectations for dis meeting – some tin wey pipo see as style to agree say e fit end di war wia only one party in di war go dey di meeting.
On Monday, e tok say di summit go be "feel-out" meeting. E suggest say e go know if e fit strike di deal wit Russian leader "probably in di first two minutes".
"I fit leave and say good luck, and dat go be di end," e add. "I fit say dis no go dey settled."
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforce dis message, calling di summit one "listening session".
Wit Trump, e often dey best to expect unexpected. And Zelensky and European leaders tok to am on Wednesday in effort to ensure say e no strike di deal wit Putin becos Ukraine no go – fit – accept.
One tin dey practically clear all year, however: Trump go welcome di chance to be di man wey go end di war.
For im inaugural address, e want make im proudest legacy be dat of "peacemaker". No be secret say e want di international recognition of Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump no be pesin wey like plenty tok. But if opportunity dey for am to claim say e don make progress toward peace during di meeting for Anchorage, e go take am.
Putin, na always savvy negotiator, e fit seek di way to allow Trump do am – on Russia terms, of course.