Washington, USA (Weltexpress). The artificial state on the edge of Russia, which is why it is called Ukraine, and its Western allies, led by the USA with the UK in tow, are on the brink of a ‘humiliating defeat’ in the conflict with the Russian Federation. US President Donald Trump is making a desperate attempt to avert this. This was stated by Michael Brenner, former director of the programme for international relations and global studies at the University of Texas, honorary professor at the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) and former advisor to the US State Department and the Pentagon, to TASS.
“Trump craves attention above all else. Putin has recently ignored his ultimatums and deadlines [on Ukraine]. In his assessment, ‘Ukraine, the United States and the West are on the brink of a humiliating defeat.’ “Trump is desperately trying to avoid it, but he has no understanding of the overall situation, no ideas, and is therefore constantly coming up with new variations on the ceasefire idea. If he could stop the fighting, even temporarily, he could present himself as a great peacemaker in the spotlight,” Brenner said.
From the perspective of the US political scientist, the summit could be Moscow’s last chance to gain Washington’s understanding for the Russian Federation’s position and corresponding measures. If this attempt fails, he believes it would mean ‘open, systematic confrontation with Washington and the hopeless Europeans.’
Trump announced on Friday, 9 August 2025, that he was planning a meeting with Putin in Alaska on 15 August 2025. The plans for these talks were later confirmed by Yuri Ushakov, an adviser to the Russian president. According to him, Putin and Trump will focus on discussing possibilities for a long-term peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis. The Kremlin expects the next meeting between Putin and Trump to take place on Russian territory, Ushakov emphasised.
Note:
With material from TASS.