Why is Russia celebrating after the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska?
Confidence is running high in Moscow, with many Russian officials and commentators claiming that Vladimir Putin “got everything he wanted” from Donald Trump at the recent peace summit in Alaska.
According to analysts, Putin’s main goals were clear going into the talks:
Keep the war in Ukraine going without pressure for an immediate ceasefire
Prevent new US sanctions targeting Russia’s oil industry
By the end of the summit, both objectives appeared to be met. Despite offering no major concessions, Putin avoided oil sanctions and secured a reprieve from stronger US pressure to end the conflict.
Russian state media and officials openly celebrated the outcome. Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova mocked the West, pointing out that after years of claims that Russia was “isolated,” Putin was instead welcomed with a red carpet in the United States.
For Ukraine, the optics were troubling. President Trump personally greeted Putin in Alaska, even ushering him into the presidential limousine—footage that quickly became a propaganda tool for the Kremlin. This moment came only hours after a deadly Russian strike on a market in Sumy that killed civilians, including children.
Analysts warn that Ukraine now faces mounting pressure. Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre noted that Trump seems to be shifting responsibility onto Kyiv and Europe, urging them to consider negotiations under Moscow’s conditions.
Human rights advocate Bill Browder also stressed that Putin emerged from the summit stronger. In his view, Trump effectively gave Moscow a “green light” to continue the war. By dropping the possibility of oil sanctions, the US handed Russia one of its biggest strategic wins.
Meanwhile, the war shows no sign of slowing. Russian missiles struck Kyiv on August 28, killing at least 23 people, including children. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the assault was Moscow’s brutal answer to ongoing diplomatic efforts.
While the White House expressed concern, it admitted that Trump was “not surprised” by the strikes. For now, however, the mood in Russia is one of triumph—fueling fears that the Kremlin has been embold
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