Anchorage: President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Donald Trump of the United States recently concluded over three hours of closed-door talks in Alaska. The meeting, which started with a brief interaction on the tarmac in Anchorage, was described as constructive and useful by both leaders.
According to Philippines News Agency, President Putin emphasized the trustful and substantive nature of the discussions. He highlighted that Russia-US relations had reached their lowest point since the Cold War, noting that no summits had been held for over four years. Despite these challenges, Putin expressed optimism about the future, mentioning a 20 percent growth in trade since the new US administration came into power. He outlined potential areas for cooperation, including trade, energy, digital industry, high technology, and space exploration.
On the topic of Ukraine, the agreements reached in Alaska were presented as a potential starting point for resolving the ongoing crisis. Putin reiterated Russia's view of Ukrainians as a brotherly nation and expressed a genuine interest in ending the conflict. He also mentioned Trump's assertion that the conflict would not have occurred had he been president in 2022, a sentiment Putin shares. The Russian leader voiced hope that the understanding reached with Trump would lead to peace in Ukraine.
The decision to hold the summit in Alaska was seen as logical due to the geographical proximity of the US and Russia. Putin also expressed gratitude to the US for honoring the memory of Soviet soldiers buried in Alaska, acknowledging the respectful and dignified approach of the American authorities and citizens.