President Donald Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday proved that he’s still a master of diplomacy. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travels to Washington on Monday, Trump has provided the clearest path yet to peace, even if the corporate media won’t admit it.
When the two world leaders departed Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage last week following a relatively brief meeting, the global media was quick to claim that Trump had failed because no peace deal was announced. Once again, however, the self-appointed “expert” class entirely missed what Trump hoped to accomplish and failed to see the bigger picture.
The first greeting between Trump and Putin following the Russian president’s arrival alone was a stroke of foreign policy genius for which every honest journalist should be commending Trump.
Putin agreed to meet on American soil, a gesture that was itself a tacit acknowledgement that the United States – and Trump specifically – holds the leverage in negotiations. The best that Joe Biden could do was a video call with Putin – perhaps a blessing in disguise given Biden’s frailty. But it’s nonetheless telling that Putin was fine with facing Biden on a screen while he felt compelled to travel thousands of miles to meet with Trump in person.
Then came the visual spectacle of the two men shaking hands and walking down a red carpet before pausing for a few photos. Liberal journalists and media pundits, of course, were apoplectic that Trump should treat a world leader like a world leader.
Here, Trump displayed the characteristic pragmatism that has made him perhaps the most successful foreign policy president in modern history. While most politicians would be all too eager to turn the meeting into an exercise in public humiliation for Putin, Trump wisely understands that there is nothing to gain from that approach. No matter how much Trump (or anyone else, for that matter) may disagree with Putin’s invasion of Ukraine or the way he has conducted the war, disrespecting him is antithetical to Trump’s ultimate goal of ending the war and stopping the killing.
As always, Trump remained laser-focused on that priority throughout the summit. No one on either side realistically expected a peace agreement to come from Friday’s meeting. But a dialogue was opened that has already produced fruit. According to reporting over the weekend, Russia has demanded that Ukraine give up Crimea and agree to never join NATO as part of its conditions for ending the war.
That certainly won’t be what Zelensky and many Ukraine supporters want to hear. But it is at least a starting point – and certainly a far more concrete path toward peace than has existed thus far. Even the fact that both Putin and Zelensky are meeting with Trump within days of one another shows how central Trump will likely be to any peace deal.
Moreover, in the midst of the left’s meltdowns, they missed the powerful message that Trump sent to the world in Alaska. Yes, Putin was walking on a red carpet rolled out by the United States. But he was also forced to walk past rows of carefully arranged F-22 jets, a reminder of America’s ability to project its power anywhere in the world. He then seemed visibly startled as a B-2 flyover shook the sky.
The symbolism here was undoubtedly not lost on Putin, even if it was largely lost on the American media. Putin knows what happened earlier this year when that same stealth bomber eliminated Iran’s nuclear program from 50,000 feet up. Trump brought the leader of Russia face-to-face with American military might just miles from Russian territory. Without saying a word, Trump showed Putin in no uncertain terms that the United States is committed to peace, but that the U.S. could extinguish Russia’s ability to wage war against Ukraine – or any other nation for that matter – very quickly if we so choose.
There has been no shortage of “America is back” moments since Trump took office again earlier this year, but the Alaska summit may be the most definitive one yet. This was something that Joe Biden never could have pulled off. Putin himself acknowledged that there would have been “no war” if Trump were president.
All attention will now turn to Trump’s meeting with Zelensky, who will be joined by other European leaders at the White House. They have thus far refused to budge an inch on ceding any territory to Russia, and this week will likely be no different.
For the first time since the war started, however, it feels like the United States is in the driver’s seat. When Biden was in office, the fear was that American troops would be dragged into open conflict with Russia in a redux of the Cold War. Now, the United States is leading negotiations – and in some sense dictating the terms – and bringing the world closer to peace. For that, Trump deserves all the credit.
Shane Harris is the Editor in Chief of AMAC Newsline. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.
Has there ever been a time when maybe a third of Americans, plus almost all the media, was rooting for a President to fail? Has there ever been a time when it is acceptable behavior for half of Congress to lie directly, on camera, to the citizens they work for? Honestly, I’m glad I’m coming up on 70 and didn’t have children because I do NOT like what America has become. Yes. Trump is a breath of fresh air and steering us back, but the white women with cell phone cameras filming law enforcement doing their JOBS, should scare everyone! New York electing a unashamed communist for mayor? People so afraid of being called racist that they are literally rooting against America. Very sad. This is NOT the America I grew up in.
President Trump may not have an “education” in foreign policy, but he seems to be outperforming most of the so-called experts. He has an instinctive knack and long experience in making deals that is serving our country well.
Being an American you would think that this is all down to Trump, but it was Putin that instigated this tactic from the very beginning when he sat down with Witkoff in Moscow. Putin suggested the meeting. Alaska was a very symbolic place for that meeting for BOTH sides. Both Putin and Trump etched out the details before either of them even flew to Alaska, this much is true.
But Putin told Trump in no uncertain terms how HE could get himself out of this Ukrainian quagmire – and for a brief second, US and Russia’s aims are aligned. Both sides won. Both sides got what they needed, most importantly a reset of relations of the highest quality, but more importantly, both sides kept their trump cards, without using them, so they are still in play if needed later on.
The fly over was a tacit hint to Putin, America is strong. You could see Trump made no big deal about it when Putin stopped and looked up twice. Trump kept on walking. This was such a gesture but like always the Dem MSM Didn’t get it. No matter who you are when that B-2 flies overhead you have to be impressed. It’s a massive looking plane. And what they did in Iran everyone was impressed including Putin. The left media with the left democrats will never acknowledge anything that Trump does. They are anti peace anti law and order anti MAGA and above all Anti Trump.
Putin saying there would not have been a Ukraine war under Trump speaks volumes. The democrats along with their leadership and the MSM are responsible for the millions of soldiers that have been killed. People on the left still don’t understand the power struggle isn’t the problem. Stop the killing for good is what Trump is after. And if rolling out the red carpet was Trump’s way of leveling the playing field in the sense of I respect you now let’s talk and make peace. The agreement that going for a peace settlement instead of a cease fire was a big step. Also that was ignored by our Media. To end this war both sides have to give up something. Trump already made peace in 7 conflicts around the world what have the dems done. And nitpicking about a red carpet but omitting the B-2 flyover shows exactly the dems concerted plan for the destruction of America.
Proud of both leaders: Trump and Putin, for meeting and getting some things worked out. It is so nice to have a REAL POTUS after all these years, especially the last 4. God bless President Trump, and give him wisdom and discernment as he guides this country.
Putting the corporate media and so.- called expert class in their place at the beginning of this article was the right and proper idea Shane . This article is presented in a way that is realistic and truthful. The matter of seeing the situation in Ukraine with facts at the foundation is important. The understanding by more Americans of circumstances that contributed to the Second World War will help to understand this Ukraine conflict. Knowledge.of history should be referred to enthusiastically as that knowledge should help with not repeating mistakes of the past. A comparison with carpentry for example , if it is known that a certain way of joining two pieces of lumber together provides a solid structure whereas another method does not then that makes clear how to build whatever it is being built in the right way. Using reasoning is vital in assessing international political developments just as it is in building things. Choosing Alaska for this location to have a meeting with Putin was a good move on the part of President Trump. It set the spirit for the right goals that need to be achieved.
Sometimes I wonder why no one questions Biden’s foreign policy stand?
Trump has dealt with all kinds of people in his business and knows how to “read the room.” He projects strength [as opposed to Joey’s weakness] and is trying to allow Putin a way out before dropping the hammer like he did to the Ayatollah!
The old adage of keeping friends close, and enemies closer seems to be lost on the Democrats and the media. It is a very good adage. Doesn’t mean you like the person or agree with them, it just means you are able to talk to them as a person. It is a wise man who follows this adage for sure. It is very apparent that it works.
Putin didn’t need a reminder of the USA’s military power. He knows it well. But Putin called the shots on when and where the meeting would happen and Putin laid out HIS rules for peace. Trump is not in charge here.
And one question that keeps coming up for me is why doesn’t any suggest that little crook idiot Z resign? It seems both Trump and Putin are content to let him stay there trafficking children, women and drugs and laundering money for the traffickers using land owned by the Bidens. That would be my price for peace. Z has to go.
Too many want to drag the US into a foreign conflict that involves 1% of Ukraine that voted for independence in 2014.
A true effort of an attempt of dealing for peace is never a waste!
I’m so proud to be an American and proud that Donald J. Trump is my President!
Like Reagan “failed” at Reykjavík!
The red carpet treatment was genius. I think it had a calming effect on Putin, and showing Putin respect may have opened him up all the more for dialogue.
I can’t help noticing that at the meeting with Trump in the White House today, Zelenski actually wore a suit! I think that bodes well.
President Trump is a great man and will continue to do good and lasting things for America. A proud American…
The goal was a ceasefire & Trump had said prior if not then there would be severe consequences by him. And since Alaska meeting Russia has continued to bomb civilians in Ukraine. General comments at EU meeting today is that a ceasefire is needed & Trump said he has stopped 6 wars this year and none required a cease. Also, I did not like the way that Trump was clapping when Putin arrived in Alaska for meeting.
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Yeah, all griping aside, one thing that actually came from the Alaska meet and greet was getting the globes two nuclear superpowers together speaking civilly.
Now, when are the Epstein Files going to be released as promised so many times in the 2024 campaign?
It appears that at least India will have to be pressured to change sources of oil purchase to reduce Russian income. Cutting off Putin’s income is probably the pressure required to stop his aggression.
One way to end the war is to let Ukraine join NATO & Trump keeps saying this is not on table.
Meeting with Vallenskyy in Ova; office yesterday was a 1000% improvement over meeting in February when Trump & Vance ambushed Vallenskyy . But I did not care for the gold background this time as it looked too much like King Tut tomb and Russian decor.
Trump talking a lot about himself and is being played by a KGB killer . We the US signed an agreement in 1994
giving the Ukraine protection if they gave up their nuclear weapons. They did and now are suffering from that decision. No wonder they don’t trust Trump or this country.