Ceremony Without Substance

NN Online:

The high-profile summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska concluded Saturday without a ceasefire agreement or major diplomatic progress on the war in Ukraine.

Putin was welcomed with full ceremonial honors, including a red-carpet reception and military flyover — his first visit to the United States in a decade.

While both leaders described the talks as “productive,” no concrete agreements emerged. Trump said further decisions on sanctions and other measures would be made in “two or three weeks,” while Putin left with a significant public relations boost at home, where the meeting was hailed as a diplomatic victory.

Critics in Washington accused Trump of offering prestige without extracting concessions, calling the event more spectacle than substance. Discussions also touched on potential cooperation in trade, technology, and Arctic development, though details remain vague.