The Rachman Review Trump ‘plays into Putin’s hands’
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Aug 21, 2025 Alexander Gabuev, Director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and a prominent expert in Russian foreign policy, joins the discussion with Gideon. They analyze the outcomes of recent summits between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky, pondering whether Russia has emerged stronger. Key themes include the effectiveness of Western security guarantees and the challenges of miscommunication among leaders. Gabuev also delves into the complexities of the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing the resilience of Ukraine amidst ongoing aggression.
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Putin’s Diplomatic Win In Alaska
- Vladimir Putin gained a major propaganda and diplomatic win from his Anchorage summit with Donald Trump.
- The meeting signalled that isolating Putin is difficult and restored his status on the world stage.
Trump Reduced Western Leverage
- Trump accepted a negotiation logic favorable to Russia by not threatening new sanctions or punitive measures.
- That reinforced Putin's position and undermined leverage the West might use to coerce concessions.
Russia’s Time Advantage
- Russia perceives the war as sustainable for another 12–18 months despite economic pain.
- Putin believes battlefield trends and resource reallocation favour continued operations.
