The New Statesman: politics and culture What happens in Alaska won't stay in Alaska | Geopolitics with Katie Stallard
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Aug 12, 2025 Katie Stallard, a columnist at the New Statesman specializing in foreign policy, delves into the high-stakes summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska. She discusses the shifting dynamics of US-Russia relations amidst the Ukraine conflict. The podcast examines how this meeting reflects Putin's strategic goals and the economic challenges Russia faces. Stallard emphasizes the precarious position of Ukraine as it navigates negotiations with powerful nations, highlighting the contrast between Trump's bold rhetoric and the realities of his foreign policy.
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Summit Is A Diplomatic Win For Putin
- Trump arranged a summit with Putin after informal backchannel reports of a possible Russian offer to withdraw from some regions.
- Katie Stallard warns the meeting itself is a diplomatic win for Putin and undermines planned US sanctions.
Witkoff's Moscow Visit And Confusing Claims
- Steve Witkoff flew to Moscow and reported back that Russia might withdraw from Kherson and Zaporizhia in exchange for Ukraine leaving Donetsk.
- Over the following days that account shifted to Russia offering a ceasefire only if Ukraine ceded all of Donetsk.
Meeting Without Ukraine Weakens Leverage
- Trump undermined internal administration leverage by saying he would meet Putin without Zelensky present.
- Stallard says that excludes Ukraine from negotiations over its own territory and weakens US bargaining position.