Ukraine has recently carried out successful long-range strikes inside Russia, hitting oil refineries and drone factories, causing disruption but not altering the front-line situation. This highlights why both sides might benefit from an air ceasefire. Trump’s recent diplomatic outreach has revived discussions, but Russia’s June 2024 demands—full Ukrainian withdrawal from four annexed regions and other conditions—remain unchanged.

The fighting is expected to continue during talks, much like Korean War negotiations, with Russia signaling it can outlast the conflict. The Russian delegation to Alaska is large and includes business leaders, suggesting both sides are thinking beyond the war toward economic and diplomatic normalization.

Lavrov’s appearance in a “CCCP” sweatshirt seemed to project confidence and evoke Soviet-era power, though it risks feeding Western fears. Putin stated that Russia sees U.S. efforts as sincere, wants lasting peace in Europe and globally, is open to improved relations and economic cooperation, and also seeks renewed arms control talks before the New START treaty expires in February.

The best-case outcome today would be a Trump–Putin joint press conference announcing at least an aerial ceasefire as a first confidence-building step, with the challenge then shifting to securing European and Ukrainian agreement.

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