The Kyiv Independent: Disgusting. Shameful. And, ultimately, useless

„Disgusting. Shameful. And ultimately, useless,” these were the words that came to mind as we watched the unfolding of the Alaska Summit, write journalists from The Kyiv Independent in an opinion piece.

On our screens, a bloodied dictator and war criminal received a royal welcome in the „land of freedom,” while his kamikaze drones headed towards our cities.

Prior to the Alaska meeting, US President Donald Trump had stated that he wanted "a ceasefire today" and that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, would face "severe consequences" if he did not agree.

And yet, after two and a half hours of closed-door discussions, Trump and Putin emerged to share... nothing. There was talk of "progress" and some "understanding," but the two did not reach any agreement on the "most important point," evidently Ukraine.

Trump did not get what he wanted. But Putin? He certainly did.

From the moment he stepped off the plane on American soil, the Russian dictator was beaming.

He was no longer an international pariah, but finally accepted and respected by the leader of the free world. Trump's predecessor had called Putin a "killer"; Trump offered him a royal welcome.

Trump greeted Putin with a red carpet, warm handshakes, a flyover of American bombers, and a ride together in a limousine.

This display of cordiality starkly contrasted with the hostile reception Trump had given to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House six months ago.

The President of Ukraine was publicly humiliated. Russia's was pampered. Both episodes were scandalous.

Trump seemed to believe that a friendly meeting could soften Putin and make a ceasefire more likely.

But there is a lesson that Trump has not yet learned: the Russian leader does not truly make deals, he takes. He takes what is offered, then takes more, continues to take until forcefully stopped. This is the Russian "art of the deal."

Trump fails to understand that Putin does not see Ukraine as a transactional issue, but a messianic one. He wants Ukraine for Russia, period. For Putin and his inner circle, Ukraine's independence is a historical accident, and they are "correcting" it.

The Russian delegation did not even bother to hide their mockery during the talks. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Alaska wearing a sweatshirt with the USSR logo, a brutal statement of Russia's claims over Ukraine. Kremlin journalists wrote how, on the government plane to Alaska, they were served "chicken Kiev," a not-so-subtle allusion that Ukraine was "ready to be served." The Russians clearly never took the "peace talks" seriously.

And there was another reason for Putin's smile in Alaska.

The Russian dictator rejoices because the meeting was so unsettling for all of the US allies, far beyond Ukraine. It sent a disturbing signal across the Atlantic. And strategically, undermining the transatlantic alliance is an even more important goal for Russia than taking control of Ukraine.

Putin returns from the Alaska Summit with a victory, but not with the total triumph he could have achieved.