Russia eyes Alaska summit as chance to weaken sanctions – ISW
Photo: Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump (Getty Images
The Kremlin will likely try to use the summit in Alaska to achieve a relaxation of Western sanctions by shifting attention from the war in Ukraine to economic issues in relations with the United States, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts note that the inclusion of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev in the Russian delegation indicates that the Kremlin seeks to turn the summit into a platform for discussing potential bilateral economic agreements.
Dmitriev, who previously presented Russia as an attractive economic partner for the US, even promoted the narrative that Alaska is allegedly a historical part of Russia on the eve of the meeting.
ISW emphasizes that Siluanov must convince the West of the ineffectiveness of sanctions and encourage their lifting, while Dmitriev must create an image of the summit as a major business deal.
Other Russian officials are openly talking about the Kremlin's plans.
In particular, Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov said that, in addition to Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will discuss the enormous potential in trade and the economy.
State Duma deputy Alexei Chepa suggested that sanctions may be on the agenda, while Svetlana Zhurova announced an inevitable economic agreement after the summit.
ISW warns that the US agreement to economic deals without concessions from the Kremlin on Ukraine could weaken the important economic pressure that Washington currently has on Moscow.
Trump and Putin summit in Alaska
Today, August 15, US President Donald Trump will meet with Vladimir Putin to discuss a possible end to Russia's war against Ukraine.
The White House announced that the summit in Anchorage, Alaska, will begin at 11 a.m. Alaska time. First, Putin and Trump will hold a one-on-one conversation with interpreters, followed by expanded negotiations, and the meeting will conclude with a working breakfast.
After Trump meets with Putin in Alaska, events for Ukraine could unfold in three scenarios — from encouraging and neutral to outright disastrous.
