Two months after a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a Russian diplomat expressed doubts about the ongoing positive spirit of U. S.-Russia relations. The Anchorage meeting aimed to encourage Trump to support a peace settlement in Ukraine and foster better ties between the two nations. However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reported that little progress has occurred on these issues and that the momentum for improved relations has been lost. He described the current state of relations as a “certain edifice… that has cracked and is collapsing. “
Despite Ryabkov’s comments, some Kremlin officials and Putin himself maintained a more optimistic outlook regarding Ukraine and U. S. relations, stating their commitment to discussing the agreements made at the Anchorage summit. A Kremlin aide mentioned that Russia had offered concessions during the summit, which would depend on Trump’s negotiations with Ukraine and European leaders.
The contrasting views among Russian officials indicate the complexity of their diplomatic strategy, which combines praise and warnings in response to setbacks since the summit. While Trump has shown some interest in other international issues, like peace in Gaza, he has expressed frustration over not achieving peace in Ukraine and has publicly become more critical of Russia.
There are currently no plans for a new Trump-Putin meeting, and Washington has not acted to send a successor ambassador to Moscow. Trump has considered supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles, angering Putin, who warned that such actions would damage U. S.-Russia relations. Trump has suggested direct talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but no immediate possibility for this exists as the war continues.
Trump’s recent comments suggest he believes Ukraine could regain all lost territory, dismissing Russia as weak. In response, Russia has adopted a “good cop, bad cop” approach. Putin expressed willingness to limit nuclear weapons if the U. S. does the same, but there has been no formal U. S. response. He also praised Trump for his intentions for peace and noted Melania Trump’s efforts in humanitarian outreach regarding Ukrainian children affected by the war.
Putin’s remarks at a foreign policy conference included praise for figures connected to Trump’s base, aiming to appeal to the former president. Nonetheless, Russian officials have issued warnings about the U. S. supplying military support to Ukraine, stating it would require the involvement of U. S. military personnel and could escalate tensions. Ryabkov indicated that Russia would respond decisively to any U. S. nuclear tests and is backing away from discussions on certain arms control agreements.
The mood in Russia, following the Alaska summit, reflects disappointment in Trump’s inconsistent approach, emphasizing a desire for reliable dialogue that considers their interests.
with information from Reuters