By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Following a warm greeting on the Alaskan tarmac, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in a seemingly friendly environment, which included promises to follow up on the meeting. Despite the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Ukraine and prior issues with the country’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump and Putin shared smiles and laughter, making little tangible progress. This meeting highlights a pattern of deference towards rivals like Putin while allies receive criticism and scolding, indicating an asymmetry in Trump-era foreign policy. This pattern has the potential to repeat itself as Trump seems easily manipulated by Putin, while real-world issues like climate change in Alaska and the ongoing war in Ukraine remain unaddressed.
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Now we know just how useless Trump’s Alaska summit really was … to everyone but Vladimir Putin.
Let’s be frank: that Alaska summit, the one everyone was buzzing about, was a masterclass in geopolitical theatre, and the only audience that walked away with a standing ovation was Vladimir Putin. The rest of us? We were treated to a cringeworthy spectacle, a performance that made the United States look less like a superpower and more like a pawn in a very sophisticated game. The fact that this summit was considered an “embarrassment” for the USA speaks volumes, especially when we consider the submissive and subservient optics of the interactions.
The whole thing played out like a pre-planned puppet show. Putin, with his well-honed political skills, got exactly what he wanted: a photo op, a platform to spout his propaganda, and a clear signal to the world that he had a direct line to the former American president. Meanwhile, Trump, the so-called master negotiator, seemed to be content to simply take directions, offering up concessions and repeating Putin’s talking points. It was as if Trump had been handed a script and was just reading it, word for word.
The irony, of course, is that the outcome of the summit benefits Putin immensely. He gets to project an image of strength and dominance on the world stage, while simultaneously undermining the credibility of the United States. Let’s face it, the Alaska summit was more about Putin’s objectives, which is to control the fuel and grain shipments to hold Europe ransom, than anything else. The fact that Putin refused to give an inch in the Donbas region, a territory that is rich in oil and natural gas, further underscores his strategic priorities.
The situation in Donbas highlights the depths of Putin’s strategic aims. His goal, plain and simple, is control. Control of the region’s resources, control of the Black Sea, and, ultimately, control over the European Union through economic levers. This war has cost Putin a million casualties, but he still remains adamant in his goals.
And let’s not forget the human cost. While Putin gets his photo ops and his propaganda victories, the people of Ukraine continue to suffer. Trump’s sycophantic demeanor and willingness to appease a leader who’s been accused of targeting maternity hospitals and schools is abhorrent, especially while he was smiling and kissing up while Putin was bombing Ukraine.
The “Alaska summit” seems a bit ludicrous when you remember that the Donbas region is rich with resources and has been a critical focus in the war. The fact that exploration stopped in 2014, right after Crimea, is worth noting. That region is full of oil and gas, which would have been a major boost for Europe, but it was shut down to create a gateway for Putin.
What was Trump’s motivation? It’s hard to say for sure, but it’s pretty clear that he wasn’t there to serve the interests of the United States. Some would argue that his main goal was to divert attention from his own legal troubles, that he wanted to get the spotlight off the Epstein situation. Others might say he simply lacks the experience, knowledge, and diplomatic skills to engage in meaningful international negotiations. Whatever the reason, the result was the same: a disastrous outcome for everyone but Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, the world watched in disbelief as Trump bent over backward to accommodate Putin’s demands. Trump even implied he would try and convince Ukraine and Europe to accept Putin’s terms. It was a complete betrayal of American values and interests.
This was a chance to stand up to Putin. The silence speaks volumes. Instead of challenging his aggressive actions, instead of defending the sovereignty of Ukraine, instead of holding him accountable for his human rights abuses, Trump gave Putin a pass. Trump was just a useful idiot, and everyone knew it.
So, what did Putin get out of it? Well, he got his photo op, sure, but more importantly, he got a clear signal that the United States was no longer a reliable ally. He got confirmation that he could continue his aggressive actions with impunity. He got a green light to meddle in European affairs. And he got all of this at the expense of American credibility and the safety of the Ukrainian people.
The summit also exposes a critical failure of leadership. Western leaders, including those from the US, seemed to avoid early negotiations, and instead, they allowed the conflict to escalate. By not meeting, they shielded themselves from blame and let the war drag on. Each day without dialogue was another day of destruction, and with each day, the pressure to continue the war increased.
This whole Alaska summit was a diversion, a smokescreen. Trump was playing his part in a game orchestrated by Putin, a game that has cost countless lives and undermined the stability of the entire world. And while the rest of us are left to pick up the pieces, Vladimir Putin is laughing all the way to the bank.