The meeting between Russian and U.S. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday will bring Russia a diplomatic victory, even if the sides fail to make progress on Ukraine, The New York Times reported.
The very fact of the talks already lifts Moscow out of international isolation and gives Trump a chance to influence personally. The summit also divided NATO and postponed the imposition of new sanctions on Moscow. Two weeks ago, Trump threatened sanctions if Russia did not agree to a ceasefire, but now the pressure has eased.
The meeting between Putin and Trump will begin on August 15 in Anchorage at 10:30 p.m. Bulgarian time, with a one-on-one conversation in which only interpreters will participate in addition to the leaders.
The central topic of the meeting is expected to be the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.