Strained ties between Trump and Putin
The upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska offers a critical opportunity to address ongoing tensions and potential areas of cooperation. This meeting marks only the second one-on-one encounter between the two leaders since their 2018 Helsinki summit.
Their relationship, marked by fluctuating diplomatic tones and personal interactions, has been a subject of much debate since Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Over the years, it has been characterised by attempts at rapprochement, allegations of interference, and varying public statements that sometimes suggested mutual admiration or skepticism.
Historically, the relationship has been strained, particularly over the three-year-old war in Ukraine. Trump has expressed anger with Putin over the conflict and plans to tell Putin to end the war during the summit. In a recent phone conversation, both leaders expressed hope for a reset of relations.
As they prepare for the Alaska summit, observers anticipate a clash of negotiating styles. Putin, known for his deliberate, strategic, and often cautious approach, is expected to employ long-term planning and leverage Russia's geopolitical strengths. Trump, on the other hand, has been known for a more direct, sometimes unpredictable style, often using press statements and public negotiation tactics to assert positions or extract concessions.
The summit is expected to showcase these contrasting methods: Putin's measured diplomacy against Trump's more transactional and media-savvy approach. Trump may push for headline-grabbing agreements, while Putin aims for stable, incremental gains without making dramatic concessions.
The summit, aimed at discussing an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, comes at a time when Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen is concerned that Putin might view the meeting as a reward and an opportunity to prolong the war instead of seeking peace.
Trump describes the summit as a "feel-out meeting" to evaluate Putin's readiness to negotiate an end to the war. The two leaders have met six times, mostly on the sidelines of international events during Trump's first term. Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has forged a rapprochement with Putin, but their relationship has been strained by Putin's actions in Ukraine.
Trump has accused Putin of "needlessly killing a lot of people" and called him "crazy" in the past. However, he has praised Putin for accepting his invitation to come to the U.S. state of Alaska. The summit is set to take place on Friday.
The evolving history of this relationship, marked by a complex interplay of geopolitical dynamics and personal interactions, will undoubtedly continue to captivate observers as the two leaders meet in Alaska. The outcome of the summit could signal whether the two leaders can overcome their differences in negotiating style to achieve meaningful progress or if long-standing mistrust persists.
[1] Zeleny, J. (2021). The Trump-Putin relationship: A history of mutual interest, allegations, and fluctuating diplomatic tones. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/politics/trump-putin-relationship-history/index.html
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