At the press conference following the talks between the leaders of Russia and the United States, no sensational statements were made. Nevertheless, the speeches of both presidents reflected a constructive dialogue and a certain degree of mutual understanding. This was stated in a commentary to Globalinfo.az by Vitaly Arkov, head of the PolitRus information and analysis portal and a well-known Russian political analyst.
According to Arkov, Donald Trump managed to achieve significant progress in his communication with Vladimir Putin. This was evidenced by footage of their informal interactions before and after the official talks, as well as the high-level reception given to the Russian leader in the U.S. Such developments placed many European politicians and media outlets, long insisting on Russia’s “isolation,” in an awkward position. Putin also agreed with Trump’s earlier opinion that, had he been in the White House, the military conflict in Ukraine would likely never have erupted. Today it is increasingly acknowledged that the main beneficiaries of the prolonged war have been the Biden administration and certain European governments that armed Kyiv to strike Russian territory, including residential areas, leading to civilian deaths—incidents classified as acts of terrorism.
Arkov noted that after his meeting with Putin, Trump held a lengthy phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, pressing him to begin a peace process and to stop following the directives of his “European friends” unconditionally. Reports suggest that Zelensky will travel to Washington in the coming days for a serious conversation with Trump, where the issue of political transition in Kyiv, including presidential elections without Zelensky’s participation, may be raised.
As a compromise candidate for the presidency, Ukraine’s current ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhny, is being considered. According to Arkov, his candidacy has been coordinated between Washington and London. At the same time, Zelensky’s close associates—Andriy Yermak and Kyrylo Budanov—were promised the preservation of their positions and personal financial schemes. Zaluzhny, who previously served as commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, has repeatedly praised the professionalism of his Russian counterparts and has generally conducted himself as a respectable officer, without overt Russophobia. This, Arkov argues, makes him acceptable to the Kremlin.
The analyst stressed that the U.S. will have to decide between Zelensky and Zaluzhny within the next two or three months, so that a new president could assume office and negotiate with Putin. Trump, he added, is determined to use this process to strengthen his image as the “chief peacemaker” and aims to be formally nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by January 2026.
Arkov does not rule out that a phased ceasefire may soon be announced, including a pause in the use of drones and missile systems. Meanwhile, sources in the White House noted that Trump’s call with Zelensky lasted over an hour, while his conversations with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and NATO lasted less than 30 minutes and were purely informative.
Interestingly, on his way to Anchorage, Trump also spoke with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko and accepted his invitation to visit Minsk. According to Arkov, this move further humiliated European countries that had labeled Lukashenko “Europe’s last dictator.” It is possible, he suggested, that Minsk could become the venue for a meeting between Putin and the Ukrainian leadership, leading to the signing of peace documents—naturally with the personal participation of the U.S. president.
While the Ukrainian conflict remains the central topic of the Anchorage talks, the U.S.–Russia agenda is much broader. Putin pointed out that trade between the two countries had increased by 20% since Trump’s return to the White House, despite ongoing sanctions and embargoes. Commenting on the meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed his president’s words: “There is still a long road ahead, but progress has been made.”
Some analysts suggest that Washington may propose freezing the war in Ukraine in exchange for a reduction of Russian influence in the South Caucasus. Arkov considers this approach typical of American politics—appropriating the achievements and resources of others. For Russia, however, it is critically important that its role as a peace guarantor in the Caucasus be recognized, along with the de jure recognition of Crimea as part of the Russian Federation, the de facto acknowledgment of the four “returned” Ukrainian regions, and an overall settlement of the conflict on Moscow’s terms.
For Trump, Arkov emphasizes, profitable business and the normalization of relations with Russia—especially amid global confrontation with China—are more important than fulfilling EU demands. In return, Moscow is prepared to make certain concessions in the Middle East and the South Caucasus. This, Arkov concludes, is a “wise political game” that allows Russia to strengthen its global position, reclaim great-power status, and gradually address issues across the post-Soviet space through other, no less effective methods.
Gulnar Salimova, Globalinfo.az, Istanbul
