Trump and Putin convene at 17:01, their scheduled meeting in Russia
In a highly anticipated meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with US President Donald Trump at the military base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. The summit, a topic of concern for Europe and Ukraine, could see Putin bringing historical materials to bolster his geopolitical narrative on Ukraine and emphasize the symbolic location of the meeting.
According to reports, Putin may present geographical maps and historical narratives to convince Trump of Russia's perspective on Ukraine, portraying it as an "artificial state" formed at the expense of other countries' territories. This move is part of Putin's effort to justify the Kremlin’s military aggression against Ukraine using what has been described as "pseudo-historical" arguments.
Besides Ukraine-related materials, Putin might also refer to historical ties between Russia and Alaska. Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million, preferring to cede it to the US rather than rival Britain. Remnants of that legacy include Russian Orthodox churches, residents of Russian-Alaskan descent, and Russian place names in Alaska.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian foreign intelligence service (SZRU) reports that Russia is desperately trying to sell oil at dumping prices due to reduced sales in India. The Kremlin has announced the start time for the expected talks between Trump and Putin, while the UN has recorded a record high number of injured and killed civilians in Ukraine attacked by Russia in July.
The upcoming summit has also sparked concerns about potential territorial concessions from Ukraine to Russia. Trump is reportedly planning to offer Putin economic incentives to end his war in Ukraine, while the EU Commission hopes to vote on a new package of sanctions against Russia in September.
Poland is investing nearly $4 billion in modernizing its F-16 fighter jets to increase their compatibility with NATO. Germany is financing one of the support packages for Ukraine consisting of US weapons and ammunition. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reaffirmed his country's "unwavering" support for Ukraine and the need for robust and credible security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity.
In a positive development, Putin positively evaluates the efforts of the United States to end the Ukraine conflict. Trump expresses optimism ahead of the summit with Putin, stating he believes Putin will make a deal. However, Sahra Wagenknecht, chairwoman of the BSW, criticizes the diplomatic efforts of Germany and Europeans ahead of the summit as "one-sided" and accuses Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz of prolonging the war in Ukraine.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports increased destruction, suffering, and death in Ukraine, with families living in daily fear due to drone attacks. Ukrainian drones have attacked a refinery in the Russian city of Volgograd, causing a fire and oil spill, and a Ukrainian kamikaze drone hit a building in the Russian Rostov-on-Don, injuring 13 people.
As the world watches, the stage is set for a historic meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, with potential implications for the future of Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape.
- The community policy in Alaska, home to the upcoming US-Russia summit, should consider the historical and cultural significance of the region, given the Russian Orthodox churches, Russian-Alaskan descendants, and Russian place names, as remnants of the 1867 sale of Alaska from Russia.
- In the midst of the ongoing war-and-conflicts and politics surrounding the Ukraine crisis, the employment policy of the EU Commission aims to implement new sanctions against Russia in September, while the general news communicates concerns about potential territorial concessions from Ukraine to Russia, and the possibility of Donald Trump offering economic incentives to end the conflict.
