In Alaska, Putin emerges as Csar of geopolitics

India Today

a day ago

It was hyped as a game of chicken between two global titans. But the Trump-Putin Alaska summit was a poultry-geist, with both players strutting and clucking, laying no eggs. The world, cooped up in anticipation, waited all night. Yet the cocks crowed no peace at dawn—no deal emerged.Ukraine, the hen in the crossfire, breathes a cautious sigh of relief; uninvited to the table, it escapes further plucking—for now. The global flock, meanwhile, pecks at rumours and scraps, wondering if the bluster will ever hatch anything but chaos, and PR for Trump.advertisementNo Peace, No Deal, Only OpticsIf the substance remained unsettled, notes the New York Times, the atmospherics were extraordinary. 'The president rolled out a literal red carpet and even applauded as he welcomed Mr. Putin, who is under US sanctions and faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes. The two laughed and spoke warmly with each other, and Mr. Trump even invited Mr Putin to ride with him in the armored presidential limousine to their meeting.'
The summit ended in a haze of ambiguity. Trump vaguely mentioned 'agreement' on some unspecified issues but not others, while Putin cryptically noted an 'understanding,' inviting the US president to Moscow. Neither elaborated nor faced reporters' questions. Trump promised to follow up with NATO leaders and Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Why Putin's The WinnerAs Putin flies back to the Kremlin from the island his ancestors sold to the US for less than two cents an acre, his chest is puffed, his crow louder than ever. Before the summit, he was billed as the winner—Friday's events confirmed it.Putin, with his diplomatic strut, secured a propaganda triumph without conceding an inch, establishing himself as an exponent of the Sun Tzu doctrine. The mere fact that the US president met Putin one-on-one elevates Russia's global standing and signals the failure of Western efforts to isolate Moscow.For over three years, Putin has faced sanctions, an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes, and exclusion from major forums like the G7. This summit breaks that isolation, placing Putin 'back at the top table of international diplomacy' and allowing him to bully Ukraine and thumb his nose at Europe. It provides Putin with a platform to be seen as an equal to the US, using diplomatic tools to achieve what his military has struggled to fully accomplish on the battlefield.Russian state media and pro-Kremlin outlets are already framing the event as a "victory," highlighting Ukraine's dismay and portraying it as validation of Russia's resilience.'Western media are in a state that can be called insanity, bordering on complete madness: for three years they were talking about Russia's isolation, and today they saw a red carpet, which was used to greet the Russian president in the United State,' said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.Trump: The Eager PeacenikadvertisementDuring his campaign, Trump promised an end to the Ukraine war within 24 hours. The self-anointed greatest deal-maker of the world, was desperate for some peace crumbs. Only he knows what he got from hosting Putin like a victorious king on the US soil.Trump later told Fox News the meeting was a '10' for personal rapport, conceding the Russia-Ukraine conflict was harder to resolve than expected, but insisted a deal could come 'fairly short' if Ukraine agrees.But the opposition was livid. 'The photo-op in and of itself essentially legitimizes war crimes, telegraphs to other autocrats or evil men around the world that they can get away with murdering civilians and still get a photo-op with the president of the United States,' Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, said earlier on Friday on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe.'CNN host and analyst Fareed Zakaria called the bilateral meeting 'cringeworthy,' breaking down how Trump's theatrics—applauding Putin and sharing laughs—played into Russian propaganda, sidelining Ukraine and eroding US leverage.'Sickening. Shameful. And in the end, useless,' the Kyiv Independent thundered in an editorial. 'On our screens, a blood-soaked dictator and war criminal received a royal welcome in the land of the free — as his attack drones headed for our cities.'advertisementUkraine's Toast, Europe's RoastThis setup raises alarms in Ukraine and European capitals, as it could lead to deals involving land swaps or ceasefires that favor Russia, such as recognising Moscow's control over annexed regions like Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.This dynamic gives Putin leverage, as the absence of Ukrainian representation inherently tilts the scales toward Russian demands, portraying the war as a US-Russia bilateral issue rather than an act of aggression against a sovereign nation. For Ukraine, the summit heightens fears of abandonment, while Europe braces for reduced US support.The Road Ahead: War of AttritionOn the battlefield, Russia has made incremental advances despite significant losses, while Ukraine grapples with manpower shortages, delayed Western aid, and constant aerial bombardments. Putin views this as evidence that victory is 'within reach,' making him unlikely to compromise substantially at the summit.With Russia's economy adapted to sanctions—bolstered by alliances with China, Iran, and North Korea for weapons and resources—Putin can afford to prolong the conflict while appearing open to talks. This 'war of attrition' strategy benefits Moscow.The Verdict: Trump's The LoserTrump's desire to act as a 'global peacemaker' and his history of praising Putin create opportunities for Russia. His urgency for a quick 'win' to fulfill campaign promises on ending the war contrasts with Putin's patience, giving the Russian leader an upper hand in dictating the pace and terms. The pivot toward realpolitik at the cost of moral commitments to Ukraine risks emboldening aggressors worldwide by demonstrating that sustained military pressure can force diplomatic concessions. China and Taiwan would be watching Trump's move with glee and anxiety.advertisementIf the summit yields even partial agreements, such as a ceasefire without Russian withdrawals, it would legitimise Moscow's gains. Conversely, a stalemate still benefits Putin by maintaining the status quo, potentially fracturing transatlantic alliances if Trump blames Ukraine for intransigence.As the Kyiv Independent warned: 'But there's a lesson Trump still hasn't learned: The Russian leader doesn't really make deals— he takes. He takes what is offered to him, and then takes some more— he keeps taking until stopped by force. That is the Russian art of the deal.'The optics alone normalise US-Russia relations at Europe's expense, damaging perceptions of American reliability among allies. Putin's gains highlight how the summit's very existence validates Russia's strategy of combining force with selective diplomacy, positioning him as the dominant player before any agreements are signed.With Putin acting as Papa of geopolitics, Trump—the old chicken in a hurry— will have to wait for the egg he is so desperate to hatch.- EndsTune InMust Watch