From Telegram/Denys Davydov
Financial Times article about Trump-Putin meeting:
??Financial Times: (https://www.ft.com/content/7af3b49e-c4da-405b-8199-3e12957b78c2) At the meeting in Alaska, Putin began lecturing Trump about Rurik and Bohdan Khmelnytsky, which infuriated the American president and pushed him closer to Ukraine. That summit marked a turning point in their relationship and changed their approach to each other.
??Trump arrived in Alaska expecting a deal with Putin. Putin immediately rejected his proposal and launched into a long historical lecture.
??Trump greeted Putin with a handshake and a broad smile, thinking the initiative was on his side. Behind closed doors, the warmth abruptly disappeared, according to sources interviewed by FT.
??In the presence of several advisors, Putin rejected Trump’s proposal to lift sanctions and recognize Crimea in exchange for a ceasefire, insisting that the war would only end if Ukraine capitulated and surrendered Donbas.
??Then Putin delivered an extensive historical overview, which included the 9th-century Novgorod prince Rurik, the 11th-century Prince Yaroslav the Wise, and the 17th-century Cossack Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky — figures he often references in his arguments that Ukraine and Russia are one people.
??Taken aback, Trump raised his voice several times and once threatened to leave. Eventually, he stopped the meeting and canceled the planned lunch with large delegations that were supposed to discuss economic issues.
??When Trump declared the meeting a "great and successful day in Alaska," European leaders rushed to the White House to dissuade him from giving up Ukraine, without any cost to themselves. But in reality, the summit became the starting point for the US pivot toward Ukraine.
??The deal Trump proposed in Alaska was based on the misconceptions of Steve Whitkoff, who had previously reported Putin’s willingness to "concede" some territories. In reality, Putin was offering to hand over Donbas to him and freeze other front lines.
??In fact, Putin insisted that a deal was impossible without resolving the "root causes of the conflict," which he defines as a change of power in Kyiv, a halt to NATO expansion, and an end to Western arms supplies to Ukraine. Trump’s proposal was a non-starter for Putin.
??The subsequent visit of European allies to the White House reassured them that Trump was not ready to hand Ukraine over to Russia’s mercy. This was why Russia later accused Europe and Ukraine of a lack of progress in Alaska.
??According to Putin’s calculations, as long as he has the advantage on the battlefield, he should not make any concessions. Putin’s aides regularly report battlefield situations to him, exaggerating tactical successes, claiming Ukraine suffers more losses, and emphasizing Russia’s resource advantage.
"For Putin, this is about ideology. He still thinks he can win," said a senior Western intelligence official.
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Will the same thing happen again in Budapest?
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