1. The following excerpts are taken from Peter Aitken's Newsweek article dated August 17, 2025:
(Begin excerpts)
Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, did not hold back on his assessment of the Trump-Putin summit that took place last week, saying in a Sunday appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press that the meeting was a "disaster" that gave Russian President Vladimir Putin "everything he wanted."....
The two leaders took no questions immediately after their talk, and Trump walked away from the high-stakes summit without a deal, leading many to criticize the entire meeting, which included a lavish red-carpet ceremony, a gift to Putin, a shared ride between the two leaders in Trump's armored limousine, and a military flyover...
Murphy gave a harsh assessment of the meeting, telling NBC News' Kristen Welker that he saw the meeting as a "disaster" and "an embarrassment for the United States."
"It was a failure. Putin got everything he wanted," Murphy said, adding that Putin "wanted that photo op" and "to be absolved of his war crimes in front of the world."
"He was invited to the United States: War criminals are not normally invited to the United States of America," Murphy said. "He is intentionally murdering civilians, he's kidnapping children, and now he got to stand next to the president of the United States, legitimized in the view of the world."
However, the senator focused most on the outcome of the meeting, saying Putin "didn't have to give up anything" and that "it appears the ceasefire wasn't even seriously discussed."....
"Trump said, 'If I don't get a ceasefire, Putin is going to pay a price,' and then he walked out of that meeting saying, 'I didn't get a ceasefire, I didn't get a peace deal, and I'm not even considering sanctions,'" Murphy said. "You heard Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio downplay sanctions. And so, Putin walks away with his photo op with zero commitments made and zero consequences. What a great day for Russia."... (End excerpts)
Source Link: https://www.newsweek.com/vladimir-putin-got-everything-donald-trump-alaska-summit-2114678
2. Poster's comment:
The joint press conference after the Alaska summit opened in an unusual way — with Putin speaking first, a break from diplomatic protocol for joint appearances hosted by the US. It was the first sign that Uncle Sam, the captain of NATO, had kicked the ball into his own goal.
Putin was so jubilant that he rambled on and on at the joint press conference while his US counterpart seemed to be waiting impatiently for him to finish his long-winded speech. It was another sign that the Russian leader had obtained everything he wanted at the Alaska summit.
Trump waited for Putin on a red carpet spread across the runway of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. As Putin approached, Trump clapped. The two leaders warmly shook hands and smiled.
The warm welcome received by the Russian leader at the American military base in Alaska could be depicted by the following Cantonese song about a meeting between two long-lost buddies or lovers. The song title (人生何处不相逢) could be roughly translated as "Wherever we are, we are bound to meet in our lifetime (in Anchorage? in Moscow?).
Additional Reference:
www.newsweek.com
www.nbcnews.com
www.bbc.com
www.bbc.com
www.thedailybeast.com
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
www.theguardian.com
(Begin excerpts)
Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, did not hold back on his assessment of the Trump-Putin summit that took place last week, saying in a Sunday appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press that the meeting was a "disaster" that gave Russian President Vladimir Putin "everything he wanted."....
The two leaders took no questions immediately after their talk, and Trump walked away from the high-stakes summit without a deal, leading many to criticize the entire meeting, which included a lavish red-carpet ceremony, a gift to Putin, a shared ride between the two leaders in Trump's armored limousine, and a military flyover...
Murphy gave a harsh assessment of the meeting, telling NBC News' Kristen Welker that he saw the meeting as a "disaster" and "an embarrassment for the United States."
"It was a failure. Putin got everything he wanted," Murphy said, adding that Putin "wanted that photo op" and "to be absolved of his war crimes in front of the world."
"He was invited to the United States: War criminals are not normally invited to the United States of America," Murphy said. "He is intentionally murdering civilians, he's kidnapping children, and now he got to stand next to the president of the United States, legitimized in the view of the world."
However, the senator focused most on the outcome of the meeting, saying Putin "didn't have to give up anything" and that "it appears the ceasefire wasn't even seriously discussed."....
"Trump said, 'If I don't get a ceasefire, Putin is going to pay a price,' and then he walked out of that meeting saying, 'I didn't get a ceasefire, I didn't get a peace deal, and I'm not even considering sanctions,'" Murphy said. "You heard Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio downplay sanctions. And so, Putin walks away with his photo op with zero commitments made and zero consequences. What a great day for Russia."... (End excerpts)
Source Link: https://www.newsweek.com/vladimir-putin-got-everything-donald-trump-alaska-summit-2114678
2. Poster's comment:
The joint press conference after the Alaska summit opened in an unusual way — with Putin speaking first, a break from diplomatic protocol for joint appearances hosted by the US. It was the first sign that Uncle Sam, the captain of NATO, had kicked the ball into his own goal.
Putin was so jubilant that he rambled on and on at the joint press conference while his US counterpart seemed to be waiting impatiently for him to finish his long-winded speech. It was another sign that the Russian leader had obtained everything he wanted at the Alaska summit.
Trump waited for Putin on a red carpet spread across the runway of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. As Putin approached, Trump clapped. The two leaders warmly shook hands and smiled.
The warm welcome received by the Russian leader at the American military base in Alaska could be depicted by the following Cantonese song about a meeting between two long-lost buddies or lovers. The song title (人生何处不相逢) could be roughly translated as "Wherever we are, we are bound to meet in our lifetime (in Anchorage? in Moscow?).
Additional Reference:
Donald Trump leaves Vladimir Putin summit without a deal in hand
Trump says "some great progress" was made with Putin, and he will speak with European leaders and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky soon.
www.newsweek.com
Putin gets warm welcome from Trump at Alaska summit, including a ride in 'The Beast'
Trump's treatment of his Russian counterpart came in stark contrast to his public berating of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House earlier this year.
www.nbcnews.com
Putin's warm welcome in Alaska gets cold reaction in Ukraine
In the absence of a deal, Ukrainians focused on the optics of Putin's visit to Trump in Alaska.
www.bbc.com
Trump and Putin Alaska summit: Five takeaways from the meeting
With no ceasefire and an invitation to Moscow, the US and Russia's meeting yields more questions than answers.
www.bbc.com
Exact Location of Trump’s Big Meeting With Putin Revealed
The Alaska site was the only suitable location for the summit, organizers said.
“The weakest president”: Dominik Hasek slams Donald Trump for welcoming Vladimir Putin at Alaska summit | NHL News - Times of India
NHL News: Czech hockey legend Dominik Hasek has strongly condemned the Alaska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, labeling Trump as the \"weakest pre
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Russia jubilant after Trump summit as Putin reportedly demands Donetsk and Luhansk
Moscow feels it has the upper hand after talks end with no ceasefire in Ukraine and no sanctions imposed
