"Awful, embarrassing, and utterly pointless."
In the heart of Alaska, the much-anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place, leaving international media with a mixed bag of reactions. The diplomatic outcome was perceived largely as inconclusive and skewed in favor of Putin, drawing significant criticism for sidelining a ceasefire and raising concerns about undermining Ukraine’s position.
According to the Polish news magazine "Polityka," the summit did not bring about an agreement on the Ukraine conflict. Instead, both leaders agreed to pursue a broader peace settlement, a move that surprised and alarmed many European allies and Ukrainian officials. This shift played into Russia’s military advantage, as Putin proposed a ceasefire at current front lines and gave a written pledge not to expand the conflict, though such promises had been broken before.
Trump suggested that Ukraine might have to relinquish parts of the Donbas region, an idea strongly rejected by Kyiv. Meanwhile, Putin's dominance was evident as he managed to use the event as both a symbolic and diplomatic win, evoking historic ties in Alaska and avoiding commitments to restrict Russia’s oil trade or face new sanctions.
The summit was remembered as a decline of amateur diplomacy and Trump's corrupt cronyism in government, according to the Spanish newspaper "El País." The Kremlin chief was portrayed as no longer a pariah and standing on equal footing with Trump. However, the summit was not a complete victory for Putin, as stated by the Polish news magazine. The really hard work on a peace agreement has just begun, according to The Independent.
European leaders and Ukraine strongly emphasized that a ceasefire remained essential before any negotiated peace and warned of intensified economic pressure on Russia as long as the war continued. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy was notably not invited to the summit and had explicitly rejected any territorial concessions, underscoring the summit’s diplomatic disconnect with Kyiv.
The greatest fear for Ukrainians and their European neighbors is that Trump would give in to Putin's territorial demands, as reported by the New York Times. The collapse of the Soviet Union is considered a great catastrophe for Putin, who desires to revive the old empire. The meeting in Anchorage was between a capricious president who has revealed himself to be an arms dealer, and a cunning president who has started a devastating war against a neighboring country, according to the Belgian newspaper "De Tijd."
Despite the lack of agreement, the worst was prevented in Alaska, as stated by the Polish daily newspaper "Rzeczpospolita." Putin leaves the summit without Trump making any vague threats a reality. Nevertheless, the outcome was described as "modest" and "not entirely surprising" by the Swiss newspaper "Neue Zürcher Zeitung." The summit is remembered as a decline of amateur diplomacy and Trump's corrupt cronyism in government.
In conclusion, the Alaska Summit was a diplomatic setback or a missed opportunity, dominated by Putin’s advantage. There are serious concerns that it could weaken efforts to secure a ceasefire and lock in Russian gains, while isolating Ukraine in the peace process. The lack of a ceasefire and the push toward compromises unfavorable to Ukraine alarmed Western allies and raised questions about US policy coherence. The really hard work on a peace agreement has just begun.
[1] https://www.kyivindependent.com/world/putin-trump-alaska-summit-ukraine-conflict-53429.html [2] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-putin-alaska-summit-ukraine-b2034150.html [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/world/europe/trump-putin-alaska-summit-ukraine.html [4] https://www.elpais.com/internacional/2025/06/16/actualidad/1623849526_974836.html [5] https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2025-06/trump-putin-alaska-summit-ukraine-russland-diplomatie
- Despite the conclusion of the Alaska Summit largely being perceived as a diplomatic disadvantage for Ukraine, there are concerns that the lack of a ceasefire and the push towards compromises unfavorable to Ukraine could weaken efforts to secure a peaceful resolution, potentially leading to Russian gains and isolating Ukraine in the peace process.
- The economic and monetary union of Europe, which includes many nations concerned about Ukraine's position, has expressed concern over the Alaska Summit's outcome, stressing the importance of a ceasefire before any negotiations and the potential intensification of economic pressure on Russia so long as the war continues.
