Mr. Putin Goes to Anchorage

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 In the midst of all the media attention around the meeting between Putin and Trump in Anchorage, Alaska tomorrow, something very important is missing from the extensive coverage of the meeting of these two individuals.

It is apparently not important that Vladimir Putin has been charged by the International Court of Justice for war crimes and could, under normal circumstances, in a normal state of affairs, be arrested and hustled off to prison to await his trial.

"On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, on charges of war crimes connected to the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. While the warrant against Lvova-Belova is significant, this analysis focuses on the implications of the charges against Putin, representing a landmark in the intersection of individual criminal responsibility and head-of-state immunity in international law. These charges, under Articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute, relate to the alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of civilians, specifically children, in territories under Russian control since February 2022". (https://www.fedbar.org/blog/breaking-legal-barriers-the-icc-arrest-warrant-for-vladimir-putin/)

This charge does not even consider the evidence gathered that would also lead to a charge for committing war crimes.

However, in the current state of affairs in the United States, nothing is normal - and the respect for laws of any type from any source depends on whether it suits the self-interest of the US President. The new normal is that a convicted criminal who leads the host country can welcome and offer safe harbour to an internationally charged criminal, who will face no repercussions let alone the prospect of arrest.

As the two mafia dons meet to decide how to carve up someone else's territory, the world media is waiting in rapt attention for something momentous.

There will be no momentous breakthrough. Trump, following his usual playbook, to make the news he prefers to watch and take attention away from domestic issues - of which there are many. Recently the firing of a skilled career civil servant for issuing truthful and  actual economic data or the revelations buried in DOJ files related to his old friend J. Epstein - has necessitated a cooked up carnival to appear the peacemaker. He is nothing of the sort. He has uttered the usual vague threats that Russia will pay an also vague price if peace is not in the cards Putin is willing to play. We can place a safe bet on what will happen if things do not go the way Trump would like.

Putin has laid his cards on the table and his intentions have always been clear. He considers all of Ukraine, not just what he has seized by force and occupation, as rightfully Russia's. He is humoring Trump by agreeing to a meeting that will yield nothing new. Even if Putin makes an offer, or agrees to a ceasefire, it cannot be trusted and will not be trusted or palatable to Ukraine. One need only remember the Minsk Accords (2014-15) which intended to end the conflict in the Donbas region.  The Accords have not been implemented, largely due to Russia's continued actions to seize and solidify its position in the region. (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41311-024-00637-x). The war of attrition began then and there.

And with Ukraine not at the table, the meeting is a preposterous presumption of peacemaking.

Ukraine, in concert with its European partners, issued a statement three days ago to provide some guidance to both Trump and Putin - and the message does not provide much hope for the effectiveness of whatever comes out of the Anchorage Tête-à-tête.

The statement is as follows:

We, the Leaders of the European Union, welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine.

A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force.

The people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests.

The European Union, in coordination with the US and other like-minded partners, will continue to provide political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine as Ukraine is exercising its inherent right of self-defense. It will also continue to uphold and impose restrictive measures against the Russian Federation.

A Ukraine capable of defending itself effectively is an integral part of any future security guarantees. The European Union and Member States are ready to further contribute to security guarantees based on their respective competences and capabilities, in line with international law, and in full respect of the security and defense policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defense interests of all Member States.

The European Union underlines the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny and will continue supporting Ukraine on its path towards EU membership.

(https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/08/12/statement-by-european-union-leaders-on-ukraine/#gsc-main-content)

If no agreement is reached or if there is something "agreed to" at the Alaskan meeting and brought back to Ukraine, it will likely not be anywhere near what Ukraine needs or wants.  Meanwhile Trump will then wag his finger and blame the intransigence on Ukraine, and he will leave with the appearance of trying to make peace and his diversion will be complete.

With Trump it is all appearance and no substance - the latter often the result of ignorance and the pretense of a carnival huckster. With Trump everything is a deal that can be made between two parties and everyone else can go pound salt. Moreover, it will not matter to him that Ukraine is a parliamentary system and whatever is presented to Zelensky must also pass the Ukrainian parliament.

Consequently,  the international media will trip over themselves to parse some sense from this unprecedented meeting between two criminals who purport to seek a path to peace. 

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