Ukrainians went to bed on Friday night, haunted by the potential for significant concessions from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing war. By Saturday morning, the anticipated summit had fizzled, yielding no agreements yet igniting a firestorm of outrage across Ukraine. The highlight of the summit seemed to focus more on the symbolic "optics" of the event than on substantive discussions.
Putin, responsible for the brutal war against Ukraine, was treated to a grand welcome in Alaska, with American soldiers rolling out the red carpet for him and Trump greeting him with applause and a friendly handshake. The image of the two leaders riding together in Trump's limousine, coupled with the spectacle of American military jets escorting Putin's arrival, was distasteful to many Ukrainian citizens.
"It felt like a theatrical performance designed to please Putin," noted Maria Drachova, a lawyer from Kyiv. She expressed disdain for the warm welcome given to someone she views as a war criminal. "The rational world is behaving irrationally by giving him this welcome."
Similarly, political analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko articulated that the lavish treatment only served to legitimize Putin’s actions on the world stage, saying, "There was no need for this pomp at all." The summit's conduct raised alarm bells in Ukraine, where the war has led to countless deaths and devastation.
During a press briefing, moments captured included a question posed to Putin regarding the killing of civilians, to which he merely smirked in response, drawing sharp criticism from those in Ukraine mourning their losses. "I lost my home twice and relatives because of this war," stressed Serhii Orlyk, encapsulating the sentiment of many affected by Russian aggression.
The summit concluded with Trump allowing Putin to take the lead in speaking to the press, further amplifying concerns about the normalization of his regime. While Trump left appearing deflated, experts noted that Putin had gained a significant diplomatic victory through this engagement.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine stated the need for strong, unified support from European leaders, particularly in light of potential influence from Trump on future negotiations. He is scheduled to return to Washington soon, hoping for a more favorable interaction.
Analysts emphasize that any strategic discussions between the U.S. and Ukraine should not come hand-in-hand with the pomp and circumstance that accompanied Putin's appearance. The fear remains that such gestures could embolden an aggressor at a time when firm resolve is needed to counter his ongoing demands.
