The Trump-Putin meeting looms
Do they use the word “summit” anymore?
And can you imagine Kamala Harris meeting Putin?
Trump is trying to lower expectations somewhat:
President Trump estimated Thursday there is a 25% chance that his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin will end in failure — adding that a “more important” meeting could take place later with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The dealmaker-in-chief insisted in an interview with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade that he is the only reason the Russian dictator is coming to the table, and told reporters later in the Oval Office the sitdown in Anchorage would just be a first step.
Twenty-five percent chance of failure is Trump’s version of “pretty high chance of failure.”
There’s also this:
“I’m the toughest one that he’s ever had to deal with. He’s never had to deal with anybody like me.”
Whether or not Trump is the toughest person Putin has ever dealt with, it’s certainly the case that Putin has probably never dealt with anyone like Trump because Trump is sui generis. And it’s possible that Putin is the toughest person Trump has ever dealt with.
Trump is saying that this meeting with Putin is preliminary, and if it goes well there is likely to be a followup with Zelensky and Putin. If the meeting with Putin doesn’t go well, then “I’m not calling anybody, I’m going home.”
And indeed, some in the MSM are calling it a summit: here’s CNN with “Trump and Putin to meet in Alaska for historic summit,” and here’s The Hill with “New details emerge on Trump, Putin summit in Alaska.”
Putin lies, can’t be trusted. I believe Trump knows this. Putin still wants all of Ukraine.
And Z wants all of Ukraine back. Neither is going to happen (at least I hope not)
Trump holds all the cards. NATO spending 5% on their militaries. Our natural gas and oil production can drive prices lower. Our economy is getting ready to grow at 3% or more. We have the only reliable fleet of nuke subs.
Russia has a soft economy. Oil prices are going down. Europe, India, and maybe China are going to buy oil and gas from the U.S. Russia’s allies – Iran, North Korea, and China do not overshadow the U.S and NATO. Russia has no reliable nuke submarines. The U.S. and NATO are now set up to offer even more armaments to Ukraine.
I predict that Putin will bring in some threat of a new hypersonic missile and try to bluster his way into scaring Trump and his advisers. I don’t think it will work.
I am hopeful, but also pessimistic. Putin is a thug and believes in using force to settle issues. Will he see how weak his position is? We’ll know more in a few hours.
Ok, Trump-Putin meeting ZOOMS:
https://x.com/Scavino47/status/1956435635818070211
10 sec tarmac video at link. Ever the showman, Trump.
Mark my words: One day the US and Russia will be allies, many commenters here will live to see it.
Trump says the meeting was “extremely productive,” no details provided. (No link yet at Fox News.)
“Not there yet” on ending the war.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-putin-wrap-extremely-productive-summit-not-yet-ending-war
Post summit news conference was very strange and no transparency. My opinion is that Russia is stalling. Trump needs to be firm about setting deadlines and moving on.
Russia may think they can outlast Trump and whatever sanctions he puts on them. After all, they
can hope that maybe the fickle U.S. voters will elect another Joe Biden type in 2028.
I think Trump wants to stop this war so bad that he can be conned for a while. I would like to be hopeful but am not at this point.
As with JJ, I hope Trump does not lust after a Nobel Peace Prize legacy just to match or surpass Obama’s undeserved credential.
But “Russia” may not be “defeated” in this war unless or until other European nations set up and provide material and men, as there are only so many Ukrainians to go around to protect the existing battle lines plus watch for incursions elsewhere.
It is puzzling why in the age of missiles (as om has mentioned) why Putin thinks an expanded imperial geography can really provide the protection from invasion he claims to be seeking. But with or without help from his “allies”, he can probably produce enough missiles and drones and ammo to keep the civilian populations under bombardment for some time.
It would have been easier and cheaper to just move and build a new Russian capital 800 to 1000 miles further east if the desire is for a “buffer zone”.
But if Trump can wish to best Obama or others; Putin can wish to be a new Peter the Great, I suppose.
@ R2L > “As with JJ, I hope Trump does not lust after a Nobel Peace Prize legacy just to match or surpass Obama’s undeserved credential.”
FWIW – she puts a LOT of conditions on giving her approval.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/08/15/hillary-clinton-says-shed-nominate-trump-for-nobel-peace-prize-no-joke-n4942741
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I can imagine Kamala Harris meeting Putin, I won’t say a word about the imagery.
well she was the tripwire for the invasion, only april glaspie set off a worse response,