According to President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin is just as eager as he is to meet and end the war in Ukraine. “He’d like to meet as soon as possible. I agree with it,” Trump told reporters, framing the upcoming Alaska summit as a mutual and urgent desire for peace.
Trump’s portrayal of Putin as a willing peace partner contrasts sharply with the assessments of many Western analysts and the sentiment of Ukrainian soldiers. The Institute for the Study of War, for example, believes Putin is uninterested in ending the war and is merely playing for time.
By emphasizing Putin’s supposed eagerness, Trump is building a narrative that a deal is not only possible but probable. He blamed “security arrangements” for the delay of the August 15 meeting, suggesting that without logistical hurdles, the two leaders would have already met to resolve the conflict.
This narrative sets high expectations for the summit. If Trump is correct about Putin’s mindset, a breakthrough could indeed be possible. If he is wrong, the summit could be a propaganda victory for Putin, who would have secured a high-profile meeting with the U.S. president without making any real concessions.