WW3 fears as Putin will feel he can ‘get away with anything’ after Trump meeting

After the recent summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, many analysts believe the Russian President will return home feeling emboldened.

Olga Tokariuk, a Fellow in Democratic Resilience, explained that Putin appears convinced he can "get away with anything." She noted that Trump did not press him on his maximalist demands demands that amount to Ukraine’s capitulation. Instead, the onus now seems to fall on Ukraine to make concessions in the form of a vague “comprehensive peace agreement” promoted by Washington.

The concern is that Russia, which began the war and has shown no serious intention of ending it, is facing no additional pressure or sanctions. Tokariuk warned that Putin will likely see this meeting as validation, giving him confidence to escalate his aggression not only against Ukraine but potentially against Europe as well.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) echoed these concerns, highlighting how the Kremlin continues to frame the conflict as a direct confrontation with the West to rally domestic support. They also pointed out Russia’s efforts to build deeper ties with Iran, North Korea, and China an emerging axis that could pose serious long-term challenges to Western security.

ISW further emphasized that Russia’s recent military reforms, such as restructuring its Western Military District into separate Leningrad and Moscow commands, show long-term preparation for a possible conflict with NATO. If Russia can mobilize its forces more quickly, that could have major implications for NATO’s deterrence capabilities.

On the U.S. side, Trump clarified that he would not send American troops to defend Ukraine, walking back earlier comments that left the option open. He also dismissed Ukraine’s hopes of NATO membership and its aim to reclaim Crimea, calling both “impossible.”

These talks, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, were meant to explore paths toward ending the war. But the outcome has left many experts warning that Putin is leaving stronger, not weaker.