The peak in Alaska was a show for Russian elites. It was Putin's real audience

For Putin, the most important audience of the summit in Alaska was the Russian elites. And Trump's meeting with European leaders made him assured that the US president would not do anything without consulting Russia. The ultimate goal of the Russian dictator is to conflict the West – writes “Economist”.

The day after the meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska, Vladimir Putin called “Russian magnates” to the Martyr's Order built in the tsarist hall in the Tsarist Hall of the Order in the Kremlin, whose splendor was to reflect the power of the Russian empire. He praised the “honesty” of the American president and added: “This brings us closer to making the necessary decisions,” says the British weekly on Tuesday.

This meeting in the Kremlin was to be a signal for the Russian elites that the war could end, but of course on Russia's terms. “Such a message is also an expression of war fatigue, as well as Putin's beliefs that he will win her either through a fight or through favorable negotiations,” says “Economist”, but at the same time emphasizes that Putin did not go to Alaska to negotiate, but to “proudly flaunt” with the recovered position of a man who can affect the fate of Europe.

“Not only Trump, but also the elite of Putin and his citizens, was not only organized at the request of Putin,” emphasizes the weekly.

He further assesses that the Trump's meeting organized shortly after the summit with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelnski and European leaders did not worry Putin; In Moscow's reading, nothing important happened there except for mutual patting on the back and assurances of support for Ukraine.

And the phone that Trump made to Putin in the middle of talks with European guests confirmed the Russian dictator in the belief that “Trump will do nothing about Ukraine without consulting Russia,” notes “Economist”.

Putin is needed for Putin's entire performance related to peace negotiations, because the Russian economy enters a recession; During the first seven months of 2025, the budget deficit exceeded the limit for the whole year, as government expenditure in this period increased by 20 percent. What's more, 60 percent The Russians surveyed supports peace conversations. And a well -informed Russian businessman admits in an interview with the weekly: “Nobody cares about how this (war) will end, as long as it ends. Putin can present everything as a victory.”

First of all, these endless negotiations are for Putin only “one more part of his war plan, because they make Trump stand on his side, and allow him to achieve a greater goal, which is sowing disagreement in the West and inside Ukraine.”

“And even if the active phase of the war is suspended, his (Putin) struggle to destroy the unity of Western will continue” – emphasizes the weekly at the end. (PAP)

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