Which Donald Trump will negotiate with Putin in Alaska?
Trump flies to a meeting in Alaska with Putin on Friday (Aug 15) in a different public mood - impatient with the Russian's unwillingness to negotiate an end to his war in Ukraine and angry over missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
The world is waiting to see if it will be this tougher version of Trump who shows up in Anchorage or if it will be the former real estate tycoon who has sought to ingratiate himself with the wily former KGB agent in the past.
The answer could have deep implications for European leaders concerned that Russia, if allowed to absorb parts of Ukraine, will be more aggressive toward Nato allies near Russia like Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
It matters even more for Ukraine, which has been losing ground to Russian forces after three-and-a-half years of grinding combat.
Despite his harsher tone toward Putin over the past months, Trump has a more extensive history of trying to placate the Russian leader. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Trump declined to directly criticise Putin. The Russian president, shunned by multiple presidents, praised Trump for working to improve Russian-US relations.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign Up
Sign Up
Kremlin watchers are looking to see whether Trump will be enchanted by Putin again and swayed by his argument that Russia has a right to dominate Ukraine.
'It's a reasonable concern to think that Trump will be bamboozled by Putin and cut a terrible deal at Ukraine's expense,' said Dan Fried, a diplomat for several US presidents who is now at the Atlantic Council.
But a different outcome is also possible, added Fried. 'There's a reasonable prospect that the administration will wake up to the fact that Putin is still playing them.'
The Trump administration has sought to temper expectations, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters on Tuesday the meeting would be a 'listening exercise.'
Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he might broker a second meeting that includes both Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy if the Alaska session goes well.
Russia has given no indication it is prepared to make concessions amid Ukrainian worries that Trump might make a deal without their input. Zelenskiy says he would like to see a ceasefire first followed by security guarantees.
When Trump assumed office again in January, the Republican president tried to revive the warmth between the two leaders from his first term, expressing sympathy for Putin's isolated position in the world and vowing to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours.
As the administration eased pressure on Russia, some Trump aides parroted Russian talking points to the dismay of Ukraine's backers. In March, US special envoy Steve Witkoff implied in a podcast interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that Russia had a right to capture four mainland regions of Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson - because 'they're Russian speaking.'
And in a dramatic White House meeting in February, Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskiy for his handling of the war, to the delight of hardliners in Russia.
Despite all the sweeteners, the Russian leader has refused to play along with Trump's efforts to steer the two sides into a peace deal. Putin has talked to Trump regularly but has kept up deadly bombing raids against Ukraine.
The ongoing bloodshed prompted Trump to shift to a tougher stance in July and complain that Putin was stalling him. Trump has agreed to send new weapons to Ukraine – that Europe will pay for – and has threatened new financial penalties for Moscow.
Trump last week imposed a 25% tariff on India for buying Russian oil – indirect pressure on Moscow – but has held back from following through on his threats to impose stiffer sanctions. On Wednesday, he threatened 'severe consequences' if Russia will not make a deal.
'While the tone coming out of the White House has shifted, it has not yet been followed up with an expansion of US sanctions – Trump's deadlines for additional sanctions keep getting pushed back – or new financial commitments from Washington to strengthen Ukrainian security,' said Nicolas Fenton, of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
On Monday, Trump said he should know within two minutes whether Putin is willing to make concessions. 'I may say, lots of luck. Keep fighting. Or I may say, we can make a deal,' he said.
For Trump, who is drawn to the spectacle of a high-profile summit with the world watching, the lure of making a deal is strong. He has engaged in an open campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize this year, pointing to what he has claimed as his diplomatic victories, and has unnerved US allies with his eagerness for a Ukraine peace deal that they fret could embolden Putin.
In recent days, Ukrainian and European leaders have protested Trump's assertion that Russia and Ukraine will have to engage in land swaps in order to reach a peace deal.
While Russia occupies Crimea and large swaths of eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainians no longer hold any Russian territory, raising the question of what, exactly, could be exchanged.
Trump insists that, given his personal relationship with Putin, he is the only one who can bring the war to an end.
John Bolton, who was one of Trump's national security advisers in his first term and is now a sharp critic, said he was concerned that Putin was 'beginning to work his magic' on Trump.
'Personal relations obviously have a place in foreign affairs, just like they do in everything else. But when you're one of the world's hard men like Vladimir Putin, this is not a matter of emotion, this is a matter of cold calculation. Trump doesn't get that point,' Bolton said.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump complained that 'very unfair media is at work on my meeting with Putin,' citing the use of quotes from 'fired losers' like Bolton. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
a few seconds ago
- CNA
US capital sues Trump govt over police takeover
WASHINGTON: The attorney general for the US capital Washington has sued Donald Trump's administration over what he called a "hostile takeover" of the city's police force, which the Republican president said was necessary to fight violent crime. Earlier this week, Trump placed the capital's Metropolitan Police Department under federal government control while also sending 800 National Guard troops onto the city's streets. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday (Aug 14) then issued an order to install a hand-picked official - Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole - as "emergency" police commissioner. Federal law governing the capital "does not authorise this brazen usurpation of the District's authority over its own government", Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote in a filing lodged in federal court. "Defendants have unlawfully seized operational control of MPD, including by assuming positions in the chain of command and issuing policy directives to MPD." Schwalb has asked for a temporary restraining order on Bondi's order, and for the court to declare that Trump's executive order exceeds his authority over the District of Columbia. A hearing has been set for 2pm local time. "By declaring a hostile takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its limited, temporary authority under the Home Rule Act, infringing on the District's right to self-governance and putting the safety of DC residents and visitors at risk," Schwalb said in a statement on social media. "This is an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home." Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said late Thursday that "there is no statute that conveys the District's personnel authority to a federal official". SPECIAL STATUS Unlike the 50 states, Washington operates under a unique relationship with the federal government that limits its autonomy and grants Congress extraordinary control over local matters. Since the mid-1970s, the Home Rule Act has allowed residents to elect a mayor and a city council, although Congress still controls the city's budget. The overwhelmingly Democratic city faces allegations from Republican politicians that it is overrun by crime, plagued by homelessness and financially mismanaged. But data from Washington police show significant drops in violent crime between 2023 and 2024, although that was coming off the back of a post-pandemic surge. Bowser said earlier this week that violent crime was "at its lowest level in 30 years". Trump has said he wants to tackle homeless encampments and move those sleeping rough "FAR from the Capital". Washington is ranked 15th on a list of major US cities by homeless population, according to government statistics from last year. On his Truth Social platform, Trump this week described Washington as "under siege from thugs and killers", with higher crime rates than "many of the most violent Third World Countries". But residents rejected that depiction.
Straits Times
30 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Tough US stance casts gloom over plastics pollution deal after Geneva flop
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox GENEVA - The collapse on Friday of a sixth round of U.N. talks aimed at curbing plastic output has dimmed hopes of tackling a key source of pollution and left many advocates of restrictions pessimistic about a global deal during the Trump administration. A three-year global push to reach a legally-binding treaty to curb plastic pollution choking the oceans and harming human health now appears adrift, participants said. Many states and campaigners blamed the failure on oil-producers including the United States, which they said hardened long-held positions and urged others to reject caps on new plastic production that would have curbed output of polymers. Debbra Cisneros, a negotiator for Panama, which supported a strong deal, told Reuters, the United States, the world's number two plastics producer behind China, was less open than in previous rounds conducted under Joe Biden's administration. "This time they were just not wanting anything. So it was hard, because we always had them against us in each of the important provisions," she said at the end of the 11-day talks. Anti-plastic campaigners saw little hope for a change in Washington's position under President Donald Trump, who in February signed an executive order encouraging consumers to buy plastic drinking straws. "The mentality is different, and they want to extract more oil and gas out of the ground," said Bjorn Beeler, International Coordinator at International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), a global network of over 600 public interest NGOs. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Ong Beng Seng fined $30k in case linked to ex-minister Iswaran after judge cites judicial mercy Singapore Why was Ong Beng Seng fined instead of jailed? Key points from the case Singapore ICA to review Ong Beng Seng's PR status after he is fined for abetting obstruction of justice Singapore Drug trafficker gets death sentence commuted after President Tharman grants clemency Asia Former China envoy to Singapore Sun Haiyan reappears after reported questioning Life Founder of Singapore Symphony Orchestra Choo Hoey dies Singapore Father of 4 among S'poreans arrested in CNB raids; drugs worth over $128k seized The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about its positions and its role in the talks. U.S. delegate John Thompson declined to respond to questions from a Reuters reporter on the outcome. A State Department spokesperson previously said that each party should take measures according to its national context, while Washington has expressed concerns that the new rules could increase the costs of all plastic products. The Trump administration has also rolled back various U.S. climate and environmental policies that it says place too many burdens on national industry. Earlier this week, Washington also flexed its muscle in talks about another global environmental agreement when it threatened measures against states backing a proposal aimed at reducing shipping emissions. For a coalition of some 100 countries seeking an ambitious deal in Geneva, production limits are essential. Fiji's delegate Sivendra Michael likened excluding this provision to "mopping the floor without turning off the tap." For each month of delays, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said nearly a million tons of plastic waste accumulates - some of which washes up on the beaches of island states. 'CONSENSUS IS DEAD' Some participants also blamed organisers, the International Negotiating Committee (INC), a U.N.-established body supported by the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP). A low point was a formal meeting an hour before the negotiations were set to conclude at midnight on Thursday which lasted less than a minute and was then adjourned until dawn, prompting laughter and jeering from delegates. "Everyone was in shock as no one understood," said Ana Rocha, Global Plastics Policy Director for environmental group GAIA. "It's almost like they were playing with small children." France's ecology minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher called proceedings "chaotic." Asked what went wrong, INC chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso blamed the rift between countries and called the negotiations complex. "But we have advanced and that's important," he said. U.N. provisional rules require all states to agree - a constraint that some see as unworkable, especially under a U.S. administration that is retreating from multilateralism. "Consensus is dead. You cannot agree a deal where all the countries who produce and export plastics and oil can decide the terms of what the deal is going to be," said IPEN's Beeler. Some delegates and campaigners suggested introducing voting to break the deadlock or even for the U.N.-led process to be abandoned altogether. The WWF and others called on ambitious states to pursue a separate deal, with the hope of getting plastics-producing nations onboard later. Two draft deals emerged from the talks - one more ambitious than the other. Neither was adopted. It is unclear when the next meeting will take place, with states merely agreeing to reconvene at a later date. One positive development was that top plastics producer China publicly acknowledged the need to address the full-life cycle of plastics, said David Azoulay, Managing Attorney of the Center for International Environmental Law's Geneva Office. "This is new, and I think this opens an interesting door." REUTERS
Straits Times
30 minutes ago
- Straits Times
President Prabowo aims to go after illegal mining, oil palm plantations; speed up free-meal scheme
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Prabowo, 73, in both speeches, also outlined other priorities for his five-year term through 2029. - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto promised a broad crackdown on illegal mining and oil palm plantations, while accelerating his flagship free-meal programme in closely-watched twin speeches on Aug 15, as he laid out his vision for South-east Asia's biggest economy. Unveiling a 3,786.5 trillion rupiah (S$299.62 billion) government budget for 2026, or 7.3 per cent higher than the latest estimate for 2025 spending, he promised to continue spurring downstream industries in critical minerals such as nickel and copper – key ingredients in renewable projects – to allow Indonesia to benefit from higher export proceeds. The budget proposal – with a deficit forecast at 2.48 per cent of gross domestic product – is based on an economic growth target of 5.4 per cent, an inflation rate at 2.5 per cent and the rupiah trading at 16,500 per US dollar on average for 2026, along with several other indicators. Mr Prabowo, 73, in both speeches, also outlined other priorities for his five-year term through 2029. These included strengthening recently established sovereign wealth fund Danantara; providing ample financing support to farmers, fishermen and villagers through setting up 80,000 cooperatives nationwide to ensure they obtain the best prices for their produce; expanding edible crops to improve food self-sufficiency; and establishing 20 'gifted schools' for the top one per cent of Indonesia's students. His state of the nation speech in the morning was his first as the country's leader. The budget presented later that afternoon in Parliament was the first proposal developed by Mr Prabowo's administration after he took office in October 2024. The 2025 budget was prepared by his predecessor, Mr Joko Widodo. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Ong Beng Seng fined $30k in case linked to ex-minister Iswaran after judge cites judicial mercy Singapore Why was Ong Beng Seng fined instead of jailed? Key points from the case Singapore ICA to review Ong Beng Seng's PR status after he is fined for abetting obstruction of justice Singapore Drug trafficker gets death sentence commuted after President Tharman grants clemency Asia Former China envoy to Singapore Sun Haiyan reappears after reported questioning Life Founder of Singapore Symphony Orchestra Choo Hoey dies Singapore Father of 4 among S'poreans arrested in CNB raids; drugs worth over $128k seized The speeches came as Indonesia, like other economies, faces headwinds from tariffs being imposed by the United States on imports. The US had in July set a 19 per cent tariff on goods coming from Indonesia, while certain commodities not available in the US such as processed nickel could be eligible for an even lower levy. Dr Ninasapti Triaswati, an economist with the University of Indonesia, said focusing on nickel processing may not boost employment as the sector relies on fewer workers. 'We have to do more to drive the sector that absorbs a lot of labour, such as agriculture.' Mr Prabowo, in his speeches, pointedly did not renew his commitment to the new Indonesian capital Nusantara, unlike in speeches soon after taking office when he pledged to complete the East Kalimantan project. Adding to uncertainty over his stance on the new capital, Mr Prabowo is slated to host Indonesia's 80th Independence Day celebrations, on Aug 17, in Jakarta. Nusantara is a pet project of Mr Widodo. Both Mr Prabowo and Mr Widodo celebrated Independence Day in Nusantara in August 2024, but ties between the two have since frayed. The government has saved about 300 trillion rupiah by slashing 'expenses which are prone to corruption and manipulation', including unnecessary overseas junkets, excessive meetings and other non-essential expenditures. 'We will not hesitate in unravelling major corruption cases,' he said in his budget announcement. In his state of the nation address earlier in the day, the president said the crackdown on illegal mining and oil palm plantations are part of the government's move to curb corruption. On illegal mining, he noted that there were 1,063 illegal mines – those operating without proper mining licences – in the country and appealed to lawmakers and political parties for their support for government action. He said those behind these illegal mines include very influential persons, active as well as former military or police generals. 'There is no reason the government wouldn't take action for the sake of the people,' Mr Prabowo said, prompting a standing ovation from the House. He said a survey found that palm plantations on 3.7 million ha – or nearly twice the size of Johor state in Malaysia – were operating in violation of the law. Indonesia is the world's biggest producer and exporter of palm oil, with its main growing areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan. He added that 5 million ha of oil palm plantations have been under scrutiny for operating in protected forest areas, not reporting their actual size, or not responding to summons from auditors. 'We will ensure that the Indonesian people will not fall victim to greedy economics,' Mr Prabowo said, with the government having already seized 3.1 million hectares of illegal palm plantations with the help of the military. 'We have used the military to accompany the teams that took over the plantations because there often is resistance,' he said. Responding to critics over the free-meal programme for students and pregnant mothers, he said: 'Our goal... is to be free from poverty, free from hunger, free from suffering,' he said. Some 20 million people are being fed under the scheme, with a final target of 82.9 million. Indonesia launched the ambitious meals programme in January 2025 to combat stunted growth due to malnutrition, a key election promise of Mr Prabowo, but there have been concerns over the sustainability of such a scheme in the long term. Prof Wibisono Hardjo Pranoto, an economist at Surabaya University said a budget deficit is acceptable as long as the spending is planned and the money is used for productive purposes. 'Spending more than the revenue number is fine. We need... to do effective allocation of the funds so we can service the debts,' he added.
