Full Story Will Trump and Putin decide the future of Ukraine
Aug 12, 2025
Andrew Roth, a global affairs correspondent and former Moscow journalist now in Washington, D.C., discusses the high-stakes summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin regarding the Ukraine war. He highlights the implications of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's absence, raising concerns about secret agreements that could undermine Ukraine's sovereignty. The conversation delves into the personalities of Trump and Putin, their historical dynamics, and the potential risks of negotiating peace in the midst of ongoing military tensions.
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Strongmen Prefer Personality-Driven Deals
- Trump and Putin see themselves as compatible dealmakers who prefer direct, personality-driven bargains over conventional diplomacy.
- Their shared disdain for rules-based international norms makes a bilateral deal plausible but risky for third parties.
Summit Lacks Normal Diplomatic Preparation
- The Alaska summit appears to be a preliminary, personality-led meeting rather than the product of detailed diplomatic negotiations.
- Lack of advance teams and defined terms makes any outcome highly uncertain and unconventional.
Meeting Offers Prestige And Low Scrutiny
- Vladimir Putin values the meeting chiefly for prestige and to break his diplomatic isolation after invading Ukraine.
- Meeting in Alaska gives Russia controlled optics and a low-scrutiny environment for a high-profile summit.
