The forthcoming high-level meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled on August 15, in Alaska to discuss and resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis has widely been described as “the greatest challenge” of the contemporary times.
There have been several attempts to end the conflict. For instance, Africa’s peace initiatives head by South Africa, followed by China, India and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) were unsuccessful in their attempts to find suitable solution to the conflict which now lasting more than three years. Several declarations by BRICS have condemned NATO’s eastward expansion. BRICS has further issued hyperbolic collective statements and in summit declarations touting global peace but has, in practical terms, failed to ensure peace between Russia and Ukraine.
In preparation for this highly anticipated meeting between the United States and Russia, considered as the last chance to make a major peace deal, President Vladimir Putin has held a series of tactful talks with key political leaders. Here are essential points in the phone conversations:
India: Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. In light of the special privileged partnership between Russia and India, Putin shared the key outcomes of his meeting with US President’s Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, held on August 6 in Moscow. The Prime Minister thanked the President of Russia for the information and confirmed India’s unwavering stance in favour of settling the situation surrounding Ukraine via political and diplomatic means.
China: In the spirit of the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation maintained by the two countries, the President of Russia informed the President of the People’s Republic of China of the key outcomes of his meeting with US President’s Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, held on August 6. Xi Jinping thanked Vladimir Putin for the information shared and spoke in favour of reaching a sustainable settlement to the Ukraine crisis.
Belarus: During the call, Putin detailed the current contacts between Russia and the United States, emphasising in particular the outcomes of his meeting with US President’s Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, held on August 6. The President of Belarus thanked Putin for the information provided and praised the efforts to reach a path towards resolving the Ukraine crisis.
Kazakhstan: Putin called President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in order to, in the spirit of the allied relationship and strategic partnership Russia and Kazakhstan maintain, let him know about the progress of Russia’s dialogue with the United States about settling the Ukraine crisis, describing in particular the key outcomes of his recent meeting with US President’s Special Envoy Steven Witkoff.
Expressing appreciation for the information shared, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed the steps aimed at finding ways to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Uzbekistan: During the phone call, Putin shared his views on his meeting with US President’s Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, that took place on August 6 at the Kremlin. Shavkat Mirziyoyev thanked the President of Russia for the important information he shared and spoke in favour of searching political and diplomatic ways to settle the Ukraine crisis.
South Africa: Putin shared the key outcomes of his meeting with US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, held the day before in Moscow. Cyril Ramaphosa thanked the President of Russia for the information provided. In addition, the Russian side expressed appreciation for the well-known peace initiative aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis that was put forward by several African states, including South Africa.
In addition, Aide to the President of Russia, Yuri Ushakov commented on the upcoming bilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump: Russia and the United States are close neighbours, they share borders. So it does make sense if the delegation simply crosses the Bering Strait and if such an important and expected meeting between the two leaders takes place specifically in Alaska.
Incidentally, it is in Alaska and in the Arctic that the economic interests of the countries converge and prospects for implementing large-scale mutually beneficial projects arise. However, the presidents will undoubtedly focus on discussing ways to reach a sustainable settlement to the Ukraine crisis. Moscow and Washington will of course be working vigorously and hard on the practical and political parameters of the Alaska summit.
On August 7, US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff held a special meeting with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. The discussion focused on matters dealing with future efforts to work together in the context of resolving the Ukraine crisis. Regarding the Ukraine agenda, at the proposal of the United States, there was a principled agreement to hold a top-level bilateral meeting, which means a meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
